Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
Higher Ground
In a world that’s on fire, what is the role of art? What can music actually…do?Can a song save a life? Change a law? Topple a president? Get you killed?In Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, Jad Abumrad—creator of Radiolab, More Perfect, and Dolly Parton's America—tells the story of one of the great political awakenings in music: how a classically trained 'colonial boy' traveled to America, in search of Africa, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a battering ram against the state—creating a new musical language of resistance called Afrobeat.For years, the world’s biggest stars made pilgrimages to Nigeria to experience Fela’s Shrine, the epicenter of his musical revolution. But when the mix of art and activism got too hot, the state pulled out its guns, and literally opened fire.Fela Kuti: Fear No Man is an uncategorizable mix of oral history, musicology, deep dive journalism, and cutting edge sound design that takes listeners deep inside Fela’s life, music, and legacy.Drawing from over 200 interviews with Fela Kuti’s family, friends, as well as scholars, activists, and luminaries like Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Santigold, and former President Barack Obama (just to name a few), Fela Kuti: Fear No Man journeys deep into the soul of Afrobeat to explore the transformative power of art and the role artists can play in this current moment of global unrest.An Audible Original presented by Audible and Higher Ground. Produced by Western Sound and Talkhouse.©2025 Higher Ground, LLC (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC.
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42 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 28min
3: Enter the Shrine
The Shrine emerged as a sanctuary of freedom amidst a harsh dictatorship. Visitors describe the electric energy and sensory shock upon entering this vibrant club in Lagos. Fela's radical return from America spurred his prolific music era in the '70s. The Shrine's atmosphere buzzed with open defiance, characterized by smoky nights and an intense communal vibe. Listeners experienced music that felt transformative, as Fela wove intricate grooves, pulling them into a trance. His performances served as a powerful platform for political messages, branding music as both weapon and information.
77 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 56min
2: Becoming Fela
Sandra Isidore, a singer and influential figure in Fela Kuti's life, shares vivid stories from their time together in Los Angeles and Lagos. Listeners learn about Fela's transformative journey into a pan-Africanist revolutionary, significantly shaped by their relationship. The podcast delves into Fela's musical evolution influenced by jazz and funk, his early struggles in Nigeria, and the birth of Afrobeat. Notably, Sandra's introduction of pivotal texts reshaped Fela's worldview, leading him toward politically charged music that resonated globally.
68 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 38min
1: To Hell and Back
In this enlightening discussion, Dele Shosemi, a Nigerian-born keyboardist who played with Fela Kuti's Egypt 80, shares his transformative journey. He vividly recounts meeting Fela and the profound impact of that encounter on his life. Dele delves into the harrowing night of his father's murder, Fela's surprising empathy, and how music became a source of healing for him. He also highlights the intense rehearsal culture in Fela's band and the unique way performances became an engaging dialogue with the audience.
Oct 7, 2025 • 2min
Introducing Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
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