Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80 – Many Things

Many Things – Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80

By Chris Peken

I wonder if it was actually stipulated in Fela Kuti’s will that younger son Seun was to inherit the majority of his band, can you put that in a will’ Either way, on his debut album, Seun Kuti has, as the name suggests, taken on much of daddy’s band; and Many Things is an album marked by his youthful vigour and that bands their considerable musical muscle. Not one for the subtle metaphor or lyrical counter-point, Kuti-the Younger lets rip with all then venom that must have made for wonderful dinner table conversation in the Kuti household. Seun pulls no punches, the title track incorporates a speech from by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo (it was a Obasanjo’s raid on their the Kuti family compound that led to Fela’s mother’s death), the agenda is set. Don’t Give That Shit To Me, Think Afrika, Na Oil continue to take the fight up, and with a voice on the gruff side of his old man’s, Seun has the vocal power to back his words.

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