Legends of our time... Maali T-shirts... Fela

To finish off on our legend series, is our very own Fela Anikulapo Kuti and this quote by the herald sun encapsulates it all:

 "Imagine Che Guevara and Bob Marley rolled into one person and you get a sense of Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti." Herald Sun, February 2011

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 — 2 August 1997), or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.

Fela was born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria into a middle-class family. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a feminist activist in the anti-colonial movement and his father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a Protestant minister and school principal, was the first president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers.His brothers, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, both medical doctors, are well known in Nigeria. Fela was a first cousin to the Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the first African to win a Nobel Prize for Literature.

Fela was sent to London in 1958 to study medicine but decided to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music. While there, he formed the band Koola Lobitos, playing a fusion of jazz and highlife.

Fela also changed his middle name to Anikulapo (meaning "he who carries death in his pouch"), stating that his original middle name of Ransome was a slave name. Fela's music became very popular among the Nigerian public and Africans in general. He made the decision to sing in Pidgin English so that his music could be enjoyed by individuals all over Africa, where the local languages spoken are very diverse and numerous. 

The musical style performed by Fela Kuti is called Afrobeat, which is a complex fusion of Jazz, Funk, Ghanaian/Nigerian High-life, psychedelic rock, and traditional West African chants and rhythms. Kuti thought that the most important thing for Africans to fight is European cultural imperialism, Kuti being a supporter of traditional religions and lifestyles.The American Black Power movement influenced Fela's political views. He was also a supporter of Pan-Africanism and socialism, and called for a united, democratic African republic. He was a candid supporter of human rights, and many of his songs are direct attacks against dictatorships, specifically the militaristic governments of Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also a social commentator, and he criticized his fellow Africans (especially the upper class) for betraying traditional African culture.

To know more about Fela's music go to http://www.fela.net/

Listen to one of Fela's songs below:
Fela Kuti 'Water No Get Enemy'

Maali T's will be available next week at our ecrater store at http://www.maali.ecrater.co.uk/  or shop 11b Row A Kirgate Market Leeds

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Legends of our time... Maali T-shirts... Che Guevara

The third person on our legend series for the Maali T's is Che Guevera, a revolutionist.

Ernesto "Che" Guevara (June 14, 1928 – October 9, 1967), commonly known as El Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous counter cultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia within popular culture.

As a young medical student, Guevara traveled throughout Latin America and was radically transformed by the endemic poverty and alienation he witnessed. His experiences and observations during these trips led him to conclude that the region's ingrained economic inequalities were an intrinsic result of capitalism, monopolism, neocolonialism, and imperialism, with the only remedy being world revolution.

Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. As a result of his perceived martyrdom, poetic invocations for class struggle, and desire to create the consciousness of a "new man" driven by moral rather than material incentives; he has evolved into a quintessential icon of various leftist-inspired movements. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century

Dorfman, Ariel (June 14, 1999). Time 100: Che Guevara. Time magazine.

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Legends of our time... Maali T-shirts... Nina Simone

So yesterday was Bob Marley and today is Jazz Singer Nina Simone...
Nina Simone

Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), better known by her stage name Nina Simone, was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music. 

Born the sixth child of a preacher's family in North Carolina, Nina's prodigious musical talent prompted her ambition to become the first black concert pianist, but the realities of poverty and racial prejudice forced her to redirect her ambitions. Her musical path changed direction after she was turned down for full scholarship at a prestigious music institute, the Curtis Institute of Philadelphia. She then began playing in a small club in Philadelphia to fund her continuing musical education to become a classical pianist and was required to sing as well.  

Her distinctive and original style arose from a fusion of gospel and pop songs with classical music, in particular with influences from her first inspiration, classical composer Bach, and accompanied with her expressive jazz-like singing in her characteristic low tenor. She injected as much of her classical background into her music as possible to give it more depth and quality, as she felt that pop music was inferior to it. 

After twenty years of performing, she became involved in the civil rights movement and the direction of her life shifted once again. Simone's music was highly influential in the fight for equal rights in the USA.

This is one of my favourite songs of all time and I've posted it on this blog before, but this is a song I can listen to everyday.

'Feeling Good' by Nina Simone

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Legends of our time... Maali T-shirts coming soon...

So its been a long time coming for our Maali T's. We decided to pay homage to the legends of our time and while most of you know these people already, I want to write a little bit about them and post their music or anything relating to them; that will remind us of how they have impacted the world in one way or the other. So I will start with Bob Marley. Have a lovely Weekend...

P.S Our Maali T's are not the typical T-shirts you are used to, but are customised (with geometrical shapes) and specially designed with precision.

Bob Marley

Nesta Robert "Bob" Marley,  (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers. Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.

Marley's music was heavily influenced by the social issues of his homeland, and he is considered to have given voice to the specific political and cultural nexus of Jamaica. His best-known hits include "I Shot the Sheriff", "No Woman, No Cry", "Could You Be Loved", "Stir It Up", "Jamming", "Redemption Song", "One Love" and, together with The Wailers, "Three Little Birds", as well as the posthumous releases "Buffalo Soldier" and "Iron Lion Zion". The compilation album Legend (1984), released three years after his death, is reggae's best-selling album, going ten times Platinum(Diamond) in the U.S., and selling 25 million copies worldwide.

* "Bob Marley ranks among both the most popular and the most misunderstood figures in modern culture ..."

I know most people have their favourite Bob Marley Song, but here is mine below:

'Turn your lights down low' Bob Marley Feat Lauryn Hill

*Reggae and Caribbean Music, by Dave Thompson, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2002

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Alheri Is Totally Loving Right Now...

Hey Hey, been a while since I did this. So for those who don't know, I'm gonna be posting 5 things I'm totally feeling right now.... so without further ado, I give to you...

1.  Arsenal's Blue 2011/2012 Away Jersey...(*literally melting*). I heart Arsenal, and it gives  me so much joy to see that this jersey actually looks awesome. Love it! To buy it, follow the link below.

http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/replica-kit/away-kit/icat/awaykit/

2.  Adele.. Might be a bit of a cliche because everyone seems to really like her now, but I honestly believe that I am her #1 fan (Ok maybe some where  in the top 10...). Her music is AMAZING. Not sure what else to say. It really moves me. Just in case you haven't bothered to listen to any of her songs, I'm gonna do you a favor and post two...(thank me later) and you should buy her album, 21...

Adele

Someone Like You

Set Fire to Rain

3.  Bright Colored Pleated Skirts..Sadly I don't have one yet, but I'm gonna be a proud owner of one very soon...(yeay me). These skirts are so lovely and every time I see it on someone or somewhere, I feel butterflies in my tummy. 

You can purchase both the yellow and the red skirt from River Island...

4. Alexander Wang...I believe Alexander Wang is one of the best designers in the world. His creativity is beyond this world. Every time I look at his collections, I am totally blown away. I like to think of him as one of those designers who were born as geniuses of fashion. Okay don't wanna talk too much so I'll just show you pictures from one of my favorite collections; the look book of Spring 2010 collection, which was inspired by sport..(yes its old but I'm still in love with it).

visit his website: http://www.alexanderwang.com/

5.  Super Sun Remix - Bez featuring Eldee, Ice Prince and Eva Alordiah.  Linda is like totally in love with Bez,  not me really...but I love this song ( been playing on repeat). Listen below. 

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Linda is excited... and no I didn't win the lottery...

...I am excited about the kind of music (my kinda music) I am hearing these days and surprisingly I don't have to go digging, some are becoming mainstream. Once in a while I just want to turn on the radio or go into a store and not listen to Rubbish music. As we all know, music gets stuck in your head whether you like it or not.

Raphael Saadiq


So the other day I was in TK Maxx and I was surprised to hear Nneka and I got really excited. Then I turn on the TV and its Raphael Saadiq's Good Man... and good thing Adele is on the radio 24-7 around here so you hear cars blasting 'Rolling in the Deep' or 'Set Fire to Rain'  on their radios...then you get into a local pie shop and that is what you hear. And while Nigerian soul singer, Asa can be heard too internationally in retail stores across the UK, I am happy that music from alternative soul singer Bez is being played on the radio in Nigeria. The first time I heard his song was on the radio and I was like whoa!!! His album 'Super Sun' which have songs that I absolutely love comes out soon, and I will write about it here on this blog.


Aloe Blacc



I like old soul musicians like Otis Redding; my favourite old school artiste of all time. I still listen to his songs and get emotional and always wonder why music is not like that any more. Then I listen to Nina Simone's music and also wonder what happened to people making good music. But if you are like me, you will get excited once more because good music is back!! Songs like Aloe Blacc's 'You make me smile' and 'I need a dollar' are beginning to come into our lives and we don't have to go searching anymore...

Listen to Raphael Sadiq's 'Good Man' below

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Alheri is Liking...SDC Video: 'Dreamer'

So I might be a little stale.. but I came across this video on Uncultured Persons blog and I fell in love with it. I couldn't really find any info about them so here is the little I know:
SDC Show Dem Camp is a group which comprises of the mega-versatile duo of Ghost and Tec. That is all I know for now..lol. Ok below is their video "Dreamer" by SDC featuring M.I and Abasa Asake. This track/video is taken off their forthcoming album "The Dreamer Project."

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