The Best Best Of Fela Kuti (2CD)

Fela Kuti is generally considered to be the inventor of Afrobeat, a propulsive, highly danceable music that borrows from American soul, R&B, funk, and jazz, but is deeply rooted in traditional African folk as well. This superior, two-disc compilation collects material from across the Nigerian performer's stunning career, beginning with a handful of recordings from 1972 and continuing up to 1989. Funky, passionate, and technically precise, yet free-spirited and given to extensive improvisation, Fela's music runs on webs of percolating percussion, bobbing bass, wiry funk guitar, cacophonous and sultry horns, and call-and-response choruses.

In addition to being a musical visionary, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Fela was also a fiercely political figure. A socialist and revolutionary, Fela protested oppression in all its forms, touching on everything from police brutality to Pan-African identity, and THE BEST BEST provides a sampler of these themes. The only drawback here is that some tracks have been edited down to fit the compilation (Fela's jams could last upwards of 20 minutes). For this reason, dedicated fans may want to seek out the original albums. Still, THE BEST BEST is nearly unbeatable as an introduction to the irresistible power of this world-music icon.