Fela Kuti & the Afrika 70: “Zombie”
Zombie, the 27th full-length album by the Nigerian musician, composer and political figure Fela Kuti (1938–1997). Click image to play the title track.
Wikipedia:“Zombie” is the title song on a 1977 album by Nigerian afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and his band the Africa 70. The album criticised the Nigerian government and is thought to have resulted in the murder of Kuti’s mother and the destruction of his commune by the military.
The album was a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers, using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military. The album was a smash hit with the people and infuriated the government, setting off a vicious attack against the Kalakuta Republic (a commune that Fela had established in Nigeria), during which one thousand soldiers attacked the commune. Kuti was severely beaten, and his elderly mother was thrown from a window, causing fatal injuries. (Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti had helped negotiate Nigerian independence from Britain and is said to have been the first Nigerian woman to drive a car, or at least the first in Abeokuta.) Soon after Kuti’s mother had been injured, the commanding officer defecated on the elderly woman’s face. The Kalakuta Republic was burned, and Kuti’s studio, instruments, and master tapes were destroyed. Kuti claimed that he would have been killed if it were not for the intervention of a commanding officer as he was being beaten. Kuti’s response to the attack was to deliver his mother’s coffin to the main army barrack in Lagos and write two songs, “Coffin for Head of State” and “Unknown Soldier,” referencing the official inquiry that claimed the commune had been destroyed by an unknown soldier.
In 1978 Kuti married 27 women, many of whom were his dancers, composers, and singers to mark the anniversary of the attack on the Kalakuta Republic. Later he was to adopt a rotation system of keeping only twelve simultaneous wives.The year was also marked by two notorious concerts, the first in Accra in which riots broke out during the performance of “Zombie,” which led to Kuti being banned from entering Ghana. The second was at the Berlin Jazz Festival, after which most of Kuti’s musicians deserted him, due to rumors that Kuti was planning to use the entirety of the proceeds to fund his presidential campaign.
Sam Samuelson at AllMusic: “Zombie” was the most popular and impacting record that Fela Anikulopo Kuti and Africa 70 would record—it ignited the nation to follow Fela’s lead and antagonize the military zombies that had the population by the throat. Fela is direct and humorous in his attack as he barks out commands to the soldiers like: “Attention! Double up! Fall in! Fall out! Fall down! Get ready!” Meanwhile, his choir responds with ‘Zombie!’ in between each statement. Since the groove was so absolutely contagious, it took the nation by storm: People in the street would put on a blank stare and walk with hands affront proclaiming ‘Zombie!’ whenever they would see soldiers. If ‘Zombie’ caught the attention of the populace it also caught the attention of the authority figures—this would cause devastating personal and professional effects as the Nigerian government came down on Kuti with absolute brute force not long after the release of this record.”
“Zombie”
Zombie o, zombie (Zombie o, zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (Zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell em to go (Zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell em to stop (Zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell em to turn (Zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell em to think (Zombie)
Tell em to go straight
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell em to go kill
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell em to go quench
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Go and kill! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Put em for reverse! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Attention! (Zombie)
Quick march!
Slow march! (Zombie)
Left turn!
Right turn! (Zombie)
About turn!
Double up! (Zombie)
Salute!
Open your hat! (Zombie)
Stand at ease!
Fall in! (Zombie)
Fall out!
Fall down! (Zombie)
Get ready!
Halt!
Order!
Dismiss!