Fela Kuti: Fear No Man – Episode 8: Zombie

Podcast by Higher Ground | Host: Jad Abumrad | Date: November 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, “Zombie,” explores Fela Kuti’s iconic song "Zombie"—a musical masterpiece that not only became the cornerstone of Afrobeat but also one of the most potent protest songs in global history. Host Jad Abumrad dives into how "Zombie" ignited a firestorm in 1970s Nigeria, provoked the ire of the military, and became an anthem for courage and rebellion. Through interviews with Fela’s family, fans, journalists, fellow musicians like Santigold, and cultural historians, the legacy and explosive power of "Zombie" are vividly brought to life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Immortal Power of “Zombie”

• Cultural Weight:
  Jad compares "Zombie" to songs like "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor) and "Jolene" (Dolly Parton)—defining works that overshadow the artist’s catalog. For Fela Kuti, "Zombie" is that song: banned from Nigerian radio, yet echoing defiantly from every home (00:26).
• Instant Impact:
  When Beyonce referenced Fela at Coachella, she chose "Zombie" (00:41). When Fela was kicked out of Ghana, it was due to performing "Zombie" (00:51).

2. “Zombie” as a Dangerous Force

• Personal Recollections:
  Actor/writer Ayo Adebiri shares how her Nigerian father’s "Zombie" record was smashed by his own father because the song was considered dangerous (01:44).
  • Quote: "He broke it and he threw it out... because it was that dangerous." – Ayo Adebiri (01:58)
  • "It was taboo. But I ended up replacing it and hiding it... Zombie was huge." – Dele Adebiri, Ayo’s father (02:23)
• Reasons for Fear:
  The song led to riots and protests and struck terror among authorities. Jad notes it's not just music that upset listeners—it riled them into action against power itself (03:10).

3. Birth of a Movement

• Young African Pioneers:
  Amid Fela’s creative peak in 1976, he and his circle started the "Young African Pioneers," aiming to embolden Nigeria’s youth (04:55).
  • "We need a newspaper to spread our ideas... beginning to build the young guys of Nigeria not to be afraid of the military anymore." – Former member (05:00)

4. Direct Confrontation with Power

• Journalistic Perspective:
  Journalist John Darnton describes how Fela’s music, especially "Zombie," was banned yet omnipresent:
  • "When you went through Lagos driving, you would hear it coming out from shanties all over the place. It was spread like gospel. And Zombie in particular was an attack on the military." (05:33)
• Performance Art:
  Depiction of Fela’s live acts: bold, mocking, goose-stepping in tight white pants, making fun of the military (06:49).

5. A Song That Possesses

• Zombie Dance:
  Former Young African Pioneers and bandmates spontaneously re-enact the "Zombie" dance, illustrating its infectiousness, likening it to a “pre-TikTok” phenomenon (07:51).
• Contagious Defiance:
  Even Fela’s detractors, like his cousin Taiwo Lijadu of the Lijadu Sisters, confessed to the song’s overpowering effect:
  • "He was talking directly at them, to them." – Taiwo Lijadu (09:12)
  • "That song can kill you... when you watch them, they will kill you in a heartbeat." – Taiwo Lijadu (09:29)
• Story of Bravery:
  She recalls a bus ride where passengers, emboldened by "Zombie," mocked a policeman—an act unthinkable in Lagos’ oppressive climate (10:41):
  • "Everybody said, 'Zombie.' Everybody started, you know... That's the effect you have." – Taiwo Lijadu (10:54)
• Jad sums up: the song became "a magic trick... a trickster contagion," turning fear into collective courage and ridicule of authority (11:18).

6. The Global, Generational Legacy

• Musical Transmission & Sampling:
  "Zombie" is Fela’s most sampled song (02:44) and has enthralled generations, showing up in remixes by contemporary Nigerian artists.
• Family Connections:
  Santigold (Santi White) talks about growing up with Fela’s music, and how her father introduced Questlove to it (14:51).
  • Quote: "If you ever talk to Questlove, he always credits my dad for how he knows about Fela..." – Santigold (14:51)
  • Questlove: "I was impressed... I was listening to African music that wasn't so damn happy." (15:45)

7. The Santigold “Zombie” Premiere

• A World Premiere Cover:
  Santigold shares the story behind her unique cover of "Zombie," performed for her child’s school fundraiser during the pandemic, with all-star collaborators (16:24).
  • "How do I sing like Fela, you know? Like, that's a huge thing.... So it took me a minute. But once I got it, I got it, you know." – Santigold (16:42)
• Creative Process:
  She discusses navigating the language barrier, embracing different vocal styles, and making it her own (17:39).
• Full Cover Played:
  The episode features Santigold’s vibrant, defiant, and joyful version in its entirety (19:35–23:23).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "When Zombie came out... His dad found his record and he, like, broke it and he threw it out because it was that dangerous."
  — Ayo Adebiri (01:48)

• "It was taboo. But I ended up replacing it and hiding it... Zombie was huge."
  — Dele Adebiri (02:23)

• "Zombie in particular was an attack on the military. It's basically calling the military Zombies."
  — John Darnton (05:54)

• "He would break into this dance... It was a dance that all the kids knew, sort of like pre TikTok."
  — Jad Abumrad (07:59)

• "That song can kill you... They will kill you in a heartbeat when you watch them."
  — Taiwo Lijadu (09:29)

• "The song made people irrationally brave. It was sort of like a magic trick."
  — Jad Abumrad (11:18)

• "If Fellah is a trickster, in a way, this was his best trick because it was contagious."
  — Jad Abumrad (11:31)

• "How do I sing like Fela, you know? Like that's a huge thing.... So it took me a minute. But once I got it, I got it, you know."
  — Santigold (16:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–00:41 | "Zombie" compared to iconic songs in music history | | 01:44–02:23 | Ayo Adebiri & her father's memory of "Zombie" | | 03:10–03:48 | Songs that cause real-world unrest | | 04:55–05:11 | Young African Pioneers’ founding | | 05:24–06:49 | John Darnton on the song’s ban and military attack | | 07:51–08:15 | The "Zombie" dance reenactment | | 09:12–10:07 | Taiwo Lijadu on the song’s lethal fervor | | 10:41–11:18 | The bus story: mockery of the police | | 13:58–15:45 | Santigold and Questlove on Fela’s influence | | 16:24–17:51 | Santigold’s process in covering "Zombie" | | 19:35–23:23 | World premiere: Santigold’s cover of "Zombie" |

Tone & Style

The episode is vibrant, serious, and deeply personal—combining detailed oral history with Jad’s characteristic narrative energy. First-hand memories, humor, reverence for music, and honest confrontation with dangerous history create an immersive portrait of a song that changed lives and challenged a regime.

Conclusion

"Zombie" is more than a protest song—it's a rallying cry that shook Nigeria and continues to empower listeners worldwide. This episode shows how music can embolden, unify, and even endanger both artist and audience. The next episode promises to detail the explosive confrontation that followed the release of "Zombie," underscoring the stakes when art and activism collide.