Podcast Summary: Fela Kuti: Fear No Man

Episode 1: "To Hell and Back"

Host: Jad Abumrad
Date: October 15, 2025

Overview:

In the debut episode of Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, host Jad Abumrad explores the central question: What is the real power of music and art in a world rife with injustice, violence, and change? Through interviews, oral history, and immersive sound design, this episode introduces the life, music, and political fire of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, using the story of Dele Sosimi as a lens into the transformative potential of art. With contributions from friends, family, scholars, and global stars, the episode sets the stage for exploring how Fela’s music became both a balm and a weapon.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Fela Kuti's Influence and Legacy

• Jad Abumrad opens with reflections on art’s role in turbulent times and introduces Fela Kuti as "one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century" and the creator of Afrobeat—a genre blending jazz, funk, and political resistance. (01:15)
• Global Recognition: Prominent fans such as Questlove, Beyoncé, Flea, Paul McCartney, Burna Boy, Brian Eno, David Byrne, and Barack Obama testify to Fela's widespread artistic and social impact.
  • "Fela is the one figure whose story resonates with modern American hip hop culture." —Questlove (02:11)
  • "When I heard Fela, he absolutely blew my mind. I thought, 'This is really the future of music.'" —Brian Eno (03:19)
  • "Music like Fela’s is able to not just get folks moving... it also makes them feel alive." —Barack Obama (03:40)

2. Dele Sosimi’s Story: Microcosm of Nigeria’s History

• Who is Dele Sosimi?

  • Former keyboardist for Fela's band, now a global Afrobeat ambassador. (05:29)
  • His full name, Bamidele, means "you set foot on the motherland"; Shosemi invokes peace. (04:47–05:12)

• Growing Up between Cultures:

  • Born in London to Nigerian parents, Dele’s family returned to Nigeria after independence, reflecting optimism for nation-building (07:07, 07:31).

• The Promise and Betrayal of Nigerian Independence:

  • The hope of a new Nigeria gives way to postcolonial economic deals, foreign company exploitation, and political corruption. (14:05)

3. Corruption, Violence, and Profound Personal Loss

• Dele's Father’s Tragedy:
  • As a bank fraud auditor, his father discovers large-scale corruption and refuses to take hush money. (15:04–16:36)
  • He is killed in their home by a mob, an event witnessed by a young Dele. Traumatic details are shared with harrowing frankness:
    • "I just saw a body on the floor in red... Multiple stab wounds. There was a massive pickaxe entry into his head." —Dele Sosimi (19:56)
    • "Without a good name, you’re nothing." —Dele’s father to his children (16:47)
  • Family forced into silence and fear, highlighting the cost of speaking truth in a hostile regime. (22:24)

4. Encountering Fela Kuti: Compassion and Radicalization

• First Visit:

  • Dele, through a friend, meets Fela Kuti, who recognizes the family’s tragedy and asks:
    • "How’s your mom coping? How are you all coping?" (23:12)
    • Notably, Fela is the first to ask about their psychological well-being and introduces Dele to concepts of therapy and mental health. (23:52–24:41)
    • Fela’s empathy and activist resolve galvanize Dele:
      • "That statement. My life has changed. I said, that's it. It's my new hero. I will follow this man to hell and back. Now I know what my calling is." —Dele Sosimi (25:19)

• Transformation via Music:

  • Instead of traditional therapy, Dele turns to learning Fela’s music as self-healing, studying and internalizing hundreds of songs as a form of personal and collective therapy. (25:45)

5. The Healing Power of Repetition and Community

• Life in Egypt 80:

  • Dele describes joining Fela’s band, playing hypnotic riffs for hours—“just like the heart pumping.” (28:22–29:26)
  • Fela demanded precision and discipline, even fining musicians for mistakes:
    • "If he fined you more than twice in a night, all your wage is gone." (29:58)

• Ritual, Repetition, and Liberation:

  • The trance of Afrobeat became Dele’s healing:
    • "That repetitive thing just keeps me… oh, take another breath. Keep it going no matter what. Just like the heart pumping up." —Dele Sosimi (30:16)
    • "It's okay, it's okay, hanging there, hanging there." (31:09–31:30)
  • The loop and music offered a space of inner peace and even liberation, mirroring how Fela’s music served both artist and audience. (33:35–34:14)

6. From Personal Story to National Awakening

• Fela as Liberator and Contradiction:
  • Dele and Jad discuss the complexity of Fela: musical genius, truth-teller, and sometimes tyrant. (36:11)
    • "He didn't just speak the truth, he sang the truth. Some say he's the greatest musician in Africa... Some of that music was prophetic. Became a tyrant. People who are still hero worshipping him, I feel so sorry for them." —Dele Sosimi (36:11–36:32)
• Music as Weapon:
  • The episode closes by previewing the series’ wider questions: How does music generate liberation, radicalization, and resistance? Can a song be a weapon? (37:09)
    • "Music is the weapon. Music is the weapon. Music is the weapon." (37:28)
    • "If you're someone who doesn't think art has power, you need to listen to this." —Jad Abumrad (37:32)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "[Fela] is the one figure whose story resonates with modern American hip hop culture." —Questlove (02:11)
• "Music like Fela's is able to not just get folks moving... it also makes them feel alive." —Barack Obama (03:40)
• "Multiple stab wounds. There was a massive pickaxe entry into his head." —Dele Sosimi recalling his father’s murder (19:56)
• "That statement — my life has changed. I said, that's it. It's my new hero. I will follow this man to hell and back. Now I know what my calling is." —Dele Sosimi on Fela’s compassion (25:19)
• "That repetitive thing just keeps me… just like the heart pumping up, pumping up every minute, every second." —Dele Sosimi on playing with Fela (30:16)
• "Oh, this is really liberating." —David Byrne (03:28, repeated by Jad at 35:00)
• "Music is the weapon." —Chanted by several (37:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00-03:56: Why Fela Kuti matters; testimony from major artists
• 04:47-08:16: Introduction to Dele Sosimi’s background and family’s return to Nigeria
• 13:26-16:47: Dele’s father’s fight against corruption and subsequent murder
• 23:12-25:19: Dele meets Fela; Fela’s care, activist resolve, and inspiration
• 28:22-31:30: Dele’s experience in Egypt 80, repetition as healing
• 36:11-37:32: Complicated legacy and preview for the larger story—music as a weapon

Tone and Style

The episode weaves together journalistic rigor, personal testimony, and lush soundbites. Jad Abumrad’s narration is inquisitive and empathetic, deeply engaged in exploring art’s possibilities and limits, asking not just, “Can music make us feel?” but “Can it change the world?” Dele Sosimi’s contributions are heartfelt, raw, and vulnerable, encapsulating what it means to find healing and purpose in the crucible of trauma.

Conclusion

To Hell and Back launches the series with an intimate, urgent portrait of how Fela Kuti’s music ignited collective and personal transformation. By zeroing in on Dele Sosimi’s journey—from unspeakable loss to healing on stage—listeners are invited to consider: sometimes, a groove is more than a groove. Sometimes, it’s a heartbeat for liberation.