Fela Kuti - Shakara (50th Anniversary Edition)

Fela Kuti and Africa 70 stretch out across two extended Afrobeat performances on Shakara. Lady and Shakara (Oloje) build around interlocking rhythms, bright horn arrangements and passages of keyboard and tenor saxophone improvisation. Fela's vocals move between Pidgin English and Yoruba, with the title track taking aim at boasting and empty bravado. Each side gives the band space to develop its groove, drawing together funk, jazz and the rhythmic language of Afrobeat.

This 50th Anniversary Edition on Partisan Records pairs the album on pink vinyl with a bonus yellow 7" featuring Ezra Collective's versions of Lady and Shakara. A gold foil obi strip carries a short essay on the album and Fela's musical influence, while the additional recordings connect the originals with a later generation of London's jazz scene.

Format: Pink vinyl LP + bonus yellow 7", with gold foil obi strip
Label: Partisan Records
Catalogue number: KFR2027-8

Tracklist

LP A. Lady
LP B. Shakara (Oloje)
7" A. Lady (Ezra Collective Version)
7" B. Shakara (Oloje) (Ezra Collective Version)