Music Is the Weapon
June 25, 2009
Music Is the Weapon may be short, but it’s essential viewing for Fela fans. Filmed in 1982, the 53-minute documentary captures the late Nigerian musician/activist at his peak. For the uninitiated, it’s hard to explain–in mere words–how one man could so successfully mate the sexuality of James Brown with the righteous politics of Bob Marley and sinuous sounds of Miles Davis. Fela drew as much inspiration for his “Afrobeat” from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X as he did from funk, reggae, and jazz. Music Is the Weapon features interviews along with previously unreleased versions of “ITT”, “Power Show”, “Army Arrangement” and a live version of “Authority Stealing”. A controversial figure throughout his life, Fela is described as both “superstar” and “man of the people.” This short, but potent document ably explores that dichotomy. – Kathleen C. Fennessy
July 8th, 2009 at 03:28
[...] Jackson Music Is the Weapon (DVD – Rapid) 2009/07/07, 8:27 pm Filed under: Video Music Is the Weapon: [...]