Fela Kuti: Enter the Shrine

This episode of Radiolab features Jad Abumrad, Lulu Miller, and Latif Nasser discussing Jad's recent audio project, "Fela Kuti, Fear No Man," a 12-part series about the life and music of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Jad explains his motivation for creating the series, highlighting Fela's ability to use music as a catalyst for political change. They delve into the third episode of the series, "Enter the Shrine," which explores Fela's club in Lagos and how his music created a transformative experience for listeners, inducing a trance-like state that opened them up to his political messages. The discussion includes excerpts from the series, featuring interviews with musicians, professors, and people who experienced Fela's music firsthand, illustrating the profound impact of his work. The episode also touches on Fela's mother and her revolt, which will be covered in a later episode titled "Vengeance of the Vagina Head".