Falz Draws Five Inspirations from Afrobeat Legend, Fela

FIVE Times Falz Proved To Be Fela’s Biggest Fan

On June 8, the walls of Eko Convention Center will be bursting at the seams with excitement, colour and music as A-list Nigerian entertainer, Falz, prepares to take the stage for the second edition of his highly anticipated live show, The Falz Experience II.

Apart from the fact that the first edition was a wondrous spectacle like none other, one of the reasons why Falz Experience II is much awaited is because of the rapper and actor’s last musical release, ‘Moral Instruction’.

Drawing heavily from the influence of Afrobeat legend, Fela, many fans and critics anticipate how Falz will bring the politically charged music from the album on stage. Falz has proved to be not only be a diligent student, but also an ardent fan of Fela over the years so we are sure he’ll knock it out of the park (no pressure).

While we await Falz’s show, let’s take a trip down memory lane and remind ourselves of five times Falz has proved that he’s a true Fela’s fella.

When He Released His Cover of #ThisIsNigeria – Inspired by Childish Gambino’s socially conscious song “This is America”, This is Nigeria found Falz tackling all the major topical issues in Nigeria in a way his contemporaries weren’t. It was a very “This Is What Fela Would Have Done” moment for many Nigerians which is why the song resonates so deeply with many.

When He Released Moral Instruction – During the exclusive album listening party for Moral Instruction, Falz revealed that he had been working on Moral Instruction for about two years. Creating music on such a thorough and meticulous level coupled with the fact that the music spoke directly about societal issues is definitely something that Fela would be proud of.

When He Sampled Fela’s Songs – Speaking of Fela being proud, Sess, who primarily handled the production on Moral Instruction, would have gotten a high five from the iconic entertainer for his skillful sample of his songs. From J.J.D (Johnny Just Drop), Zombie to Coffin for Head of State and Army Arrangement, Falz and Sess really dug into Fela’s archives to create a masterpiece.

When He Recruited Fela’s Artist For His Album Artwork – The album cover art for Moral Instruction was created by iconic illustrator, Lemi Ghariokwu who handled 26 illustrations for the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti. For every song on the album, Lemi created an epic illustration!

When He Decided To Put On An Elevated Live Performance – Everyone knows that Fela was the king of spectacular high energy live shows. This is why anyone who decides to raise the bar of excellence is already tapping into their inner Fela without even knowing it. With Falz, however, everything is intentional so when he took to the stage at Eko Hotel to put on The Falz Experience I, the mark of Afrobeat distinction was a presence that could not be dismissed. From the costumes to the live band, dancing and performance storytelling, anyone who attended will tell you that Fela was in the building.This has us on the edge of our seats, eagerly anticipating the spectacular show that will be The Falz Experience II.

Tickets can be purchased from NairaBox, Ariiyatickets & Afritickets.