The fruit borne of the matured seed first encapsulated within Amayo by Fela Anikulakpo Kuti in Nigeria . The roots of the germinated seed were transplanted to New York , where the climate of global awareness and the dedicated cultivation of Antibalas became catalysts for the flower to bloom and the fruit to ripen.
The climate is right, the fruit has ripened, and now it is time for FU-Arkist-RA to emerge.
FU-ARKIST-RA is a 12 piece ensemble based in Williamsburg , Brooklyn , New York . The band features some members of Antibalas, Jojo Kuo & Ola Jagun (both former members of Fela Kuti's Egypt '80), Kunle Ade ( son of juju legend King Suny Ade) and a recent guest member is Dick Griffin, formally with Sun Ra. This union represent a diverse spectrum of backgrounds, but all carry the fused DNA of Kung Fu masters and philosophers of the Orient, Fela Kuti and the Royal warriors of Benin/Ife Kingdoms. The result is a lethal weapon called FU-Afrobeat: a blend of African spiritual rhythms, Traditional Chinese lion rhythms, highlife, funk, and jazz, infused with political messages. The inventor of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti once said, “Wait make I reach where I de go.” (just you wait till I reach my destination).
The mission of FU-ARKIST-RA is not only to continue Fela's journey to reach the masses and to inspire the youth to listen critically, get involved, get in shape both mindfully and martially and to create solutions to problems masterminded by fear and control freaks.
However, since the 2004 American Empire elections, our Mission is to REGROUP, RENEW AND RECHARGE ALL CRITICAL THINKERS, ALL ACTIVISTS AND ALL UNDERGROUND SPIRITUAL LEADERS, AAALL ABOARD OUR FU-RYTHMIC PLATFORM. TRUE & EQUAL SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. We need to Truly Unite our voices ALL UNDER ONE!!
They have CAPITAL; we need a CATAPULT, and then some.
ONE LOVE, ONE VOICE, ONE REVOLUTION!!
FU's musical compositions and arrangements are masterfully crafted, taking the audience along the journey of rhythmic highways. The lyrics seamlessly dice, hack and penetrate through the false wall of impossibilities and the lies of history, like a sword.
“While a lie is like a frantic quick fix, the truth always patiently reveals itself at the end of a bad trip.”
