Continuing the 50th anniversary celebrations of Nigerian musical superstar Fela Kuti, 7th release Gentleman yet again dishes up three big tunes with impossible grooves courtesy of his band Africa 70. As ever, tucked away both subtly and really-not-subtly-at-all were Kuti’s favourite lyrical messages of anti-colonialism, with the closing track Igbe railing against being a betraying “shit” friend, as angry as it is funky. You can’t beat it! – Flying Out

1973s Gentleman is the 7th in the series of celebratoryFela50th Anniversary reissues. Like its predecessors in the series, this version will be available on exclusive colored vinyl (Igbo Smoke) and the LP will be wrapped in a gold foil obi strip with a brief essay on the album andFela‘s global impact on music. LikeFela‘s other early 70’s releases, he used each side of his LPs to create a deep groove that pulls the listener in and follows with metaphoric lyrics that call out and critique the corrupt hangover of colonialism.

Gentleman is the last ofFela‘s early 1970s albums recorded with the Africa 70. The title track can be interpreted literally or as a metaphor concerning a wider issue.Feladeftly addresses the colonialism-induced, inferiority complex which led many in Africa’s new governing elites to reject African style, concepts of beauty, and modes of behavior in favor of European imports. Gentleman’s other tracks, Fefe Naa Efe and Igbe, have more direct, less metaphorical lyrics. On Fefe Naa Efe, an Ashanti motto from Ghana,Felatells a woman dumped by her boyfriend that she must get over the heartache and move on. On Igbe,Feladeclares that anyone who betrays a friend is shit, and that anybody who lacks self-respect is shit – something you want to expel from your body as soon as possible. He sings the word “shit” in several Nigerian languages, so there is no misunderstanding.

Tracklisting:

1. Gentlemen
2.Fefe Naa Efe
3.Igbe