Fela Kuti - Music Is the Weapon
List Price:
Our Price: $18.88
You Save: $12.61 (40%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $18.87 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Fela KutiDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), PCM Stereo; French (Original Language), PCM Stereo
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Import, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 53 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-03-30
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Import
Movie Reviews of Fela Kuti - Music Is the Weapon
Movie Review: Well-organized presentation of Fela's political life, but little about the music itself
Summary: 3 Stars
MUSIC IS THE WEAPON is a 1982 documentary describing the trials and tribulations of Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician and human rights activist who never stopped calling for an end to corruption in spite of beatings and imprisonment. The context of the film is Fela's hopes for the 1983 presidential election, which subsequently came to naught when the government refused to recognize his candidacy.
The documentary covers all the main points of Fela's political life and philosophy. We see him railing against the Nigerian government, calling it worse than that of South Africa because in his country blacks were oppressing blacks. The events of 1977 are recounted, a 15-hour siege when soldiers killed his mother, raped his wives, and arsoned his home. Fela's discusses his ideas of a return to African roots, explains why he has restored a tradition of polygamy to his family, and deplores both capitalism and Marxism as inappropriate for creating a distinctly African society. Fela throughout seems like a man of boundless energy, and the viewer will be amazed at how well he has held up in spite of his many beatings (scars of which are left all over his body). Now, of course, we know that over the next decade he was going to become increasingly seclusive, and ultimately succumb to AIDS, which gives the film a poignant tone.
The weakness of the film is that it deals very little with Fela's music itself. I would have liked to see Fela talking about creating the afrobeat genres, his experiences in the US in the late 1960s, and his early work in highlife. There is plenty of footage of performances, but no complete songs, and the audio quality isn't too hot. Plus, the documentary is all in all just 53 minutes long. All in all, it would probably be best to get the documentary as part of the Music Is the Weapon: The Best of Fela Kuti set of 2 CDs and a DVD.
Summary of Fela Kuti - Music Is the Weapon
Music Is the Weapon may be short, but it's essential viewing for Fela fans. Filmed in 1982, the 53-minute documentary captures the late Nigerian musician/activist at his peak. (There are slight differences between the English and French versions, so it's best to watch both.) For the uninitiated, it's hard to explain--in mere words--how one man could so successfully mate the sexuality of James Brown with the righteous politics of Bob Marley and sinuous sounds of Miles Davis. Fela drew as much inspiration for his "Afro-beat" from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X as funk, reggae, and jazz. Music Is the Weapon features interviews with Fela and a few of his many wives, along with performances of "ITT," "Army Arrangement," and other anthems. A controversial figure throughout his life, Fela is described as both "superstar" and "man of the people." This short, but potent document ably explores that dichotomy. --Kathleen C. FennessyDocumentary DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Movies of the Sundance Channel
Shakespeare Behind BarsUNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP DISTRIBUTION; Release date: 2006-07-18; DVD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
![Head-On [Gegen die Wand] Image](/images/Head-On-Gegen-die-Wand-B0009VND0E-X.jpg)
Head-On [Gegen die Wand]Release date: 2005-09-13; DVD
Best price: $12.45
Price in other shops:
It's All Gone Pete TongSony; Release date: 2005-09-20; DVD
Best price: $8.17
Price in other shops:
Harvie KrumpetRelease date: 2004-11-09; DVD
Best price: $3.89
Price in other shops:
The Year of the YaoRelease date: 2006-03-14; DVD
Best price: $2.92
Price in other shops:
Grey Gardens - Criterion CollectionImage Entertainment; Release date: 2001-08-14; DVD
Best price: $25.49
Price in other shops:
One Punk Under God: The Prodigal Son Of Jim And Tammy FaeNEW VIDEO GROUP INC; Release date: 2007-05-29; DVD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
ChrystalRelease date: 2005-08-30; DVD
Best price: $3.55
Price in other shops:
We Jam Econo - The Story of the MinutemenRelease date: 2006-06-27; DVD
Best price: $15.33
Price in other shops:
The Last VictoryRelease date: 2006-02-14; DVD
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
Fela Kuti - Koola Lobitos 1964-1968/ The '69 Los Angeles SessionsRelease date: 2006-03-07; Music CD
Best price: $11.53
Price in other shops:
Seun Anikulapo Kuti - Seun Kuti & Egypt 80Release date: 2008-06-24; Music CD
Best price: $12.88
Price in other shops:
Fela Kuti - The Underground Spiritual GameRelease date: 2004-09-07; Music CD
Best price: $89.95
Fela Kuti - The Best Best of Fela KutiRelease date: 2000-02-01; Music CD
Best price: $18.41
Price in other shops:
Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Africa '70, Ginger Baker - Live!Release date: 2001-07-17; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Fela Kuti - Open & Close/ AfrodisiacRelease date: 2001-07-17; Music CD
Best price: $15.10
Price in other shops:
Fela: Life And Times Of An Africanby Michael Veal
Temple University Press; Published: 2000-05-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $31.95
Price in other shops:
Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part HarmonyLions Gate; Release date: 2003-10-21; DVD
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
![Femi Kuti - Live at the Shrine [Deluxe Edition DVD + Live CD] Image](/images/Femi-Kuti-Live-at-the-Shrine-Deluxe-Edition-DVD-Live-CD-B00096S462-X.jpg){kind=small}
Femi Kuti - Live at the Shrine [Deluxe Edition DVD + Live CD]Uni; Release date: 2005-06-28; DVD
Best price: $17.89
Price in other shops:
Fela In ConcertRelease date: 2001-10-30; DVD
Best price: $13.01
Price in other shops: