Fela Kuti - Fear Not For Man

Limited edition green vinyl

Another batch of influential albums from the late Fela Kuti, Afrobeat pioneer and human rights and political activist, is being reissued by Knitting Factory Records to commemorate the contributions Kuti made to music and society as a whole. These colored vinyl reissues include Fear Not For Man (1977), Beasts Of No Nation (1989), Everything Scatter (1975), Roforofo Fight (1972), Alagbon Close (1974) and Na Poi (1976). Each includes Lemi Ghariokwu's iconic original album artwork.

Fear Not For Man was one of the first albums to be released by Fela following the sacking of his Kalakuta Republic compound by 1,000 soldiers on February 18, 1977. Fela, along with many other Kalakuta residents, was brutally beaten; his mother, then aged 77, was thrown out of a window, fracturing a leg. The army set fire to the compound, destroying six Afrika 70 vehicles, all Fela's master tapes and band equipment, a four-track recording studio, and all the community members' personal belongings. It is doubtful, contrary to some sources, Fear Not For Man was recorded after the attack — doubt which is dispelled by neither the gruesome front sleeve design, showing blood flowing down Fela's face. His response came later, on albums such as Unknown Soldier (1979) and Coffin For Head Of State (1980); Fela's practice of no longer performing a song live once he had released it on record is the reason for the two/three year gap between the attack and the release of these albums.

Side 1

Fear Not For Man

Side 2

Palm Wine Sound (Instrumental)

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