Shakara

Shakara

Shakara is one of a clutch of early 1970s albums â€“ also among them this boxâ€™s Felaâ€™s London Scene and Afrodisiac â€“ on which Felaâ€™s Afrobeat transitioned from foetal stage to something approaching full-grown form. Shakara (1971) includes three of mature Afrobeatâ€™s signature ingredients. There are two guitarists, rhythm guitarist Tutu Shoronmu and tenor guitarist Segun Edo. The pairâ€™s repetitive, interlocking riffs - part melody, part rhythm - play a similar role to the rhythm and mi-solo guitars used in contemporary Congolese rumba. Felaâ€™s Broken English lyrics extend his musicâ€™s audience beyond Yoruba speakers and make his words understandable across Anglophone Africa. And female backing vocalists echo Felaâ€™s lead vocals in what was to become Afrobeatâ€™s trademark call-and-response pattern. On release, Shakaraâ€™s B-side, â€œLady,â€ was jumped on by the Nigerian press as Felaâ€™s contribution to a â€œwar between the sexes.â€ â€œI want tell you about lady-o,â€ Fela sang. â€œShe go want take cigar before anybody, she go want make you open the door for am, she go want the man wash plate for her for kitchen, she want sit down for table before anybody.â€ By contrast: â€œAfrica woman, she know the man na master, she go cook for him, she go do anything for himâ€¦.But lady no be so, lady na master.â€ â€œLady,â€ like 1975â€™s â€œMattress,â€ has been interpreted by some as â€œanti-women.â€ It was certainly in conflict with European feminist thought. However the lyric is interpreted, Fela was arguing from the particular in order to highlight the general: the adoption of European social habits to the detriment of African culture. Fela would address African men in similar fashion in â€œGentlemanâ€ in 1973, lampooning their adoption of European suits, shoes and ties â€“ which caused them to â€œsmell like shitâ€ in the African heat - before returning to the women in 1976 in â€œYellow Fever,â€ a song about the fashion for skin whitening creams. â€œShakaraâ€ is a mainly instrumental track, with a brief lyric, sung in Yoruba, warning against boasters and braggarts. Up-tempo, with a suitably turbulent horn arrangement, it includes strong solos from Fela on keyboards and the fearsome Igo Chico on tenor saxophone.
Country USA
Brand Knitting Factory Records
Manufacturer Knitting Factory Records
Binding Vinyl
ItemPartNumber 0720841206712
ReleaseDate 2016-10-14
UnitCount 1
Format Import
UPCs 720841206712
EANs 0720841206712

Country	USA
Brand	Knitting Factory Records
Manufacturer	Knitting Factory Records
Binding	Vinyl
ItemPartNumber	0720841206712
ReleaseDate	2016-10-14
UnitCount	1
Format	Import
UPCs	720841206712
EANs	0720841206712

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