Following Fela

>> NYC’s Antibalas workshop
the message of Afro-beat

by SCOTT C

Afro-beat warriors Antibalas return to Montreal for yet another spirited, lively connection with their energized and adoring fans. The extended New York family immersed in the messages, music and conviction of Afro-beat legend Fela Kuti will be leaving something behind this time. Along with their live show, they will also be conducting two workshops for all Afro-beat-interested parties. “Music Is a Weapon of the Future: How Fela Kuti Used Afro-beat as a Weapon” and “So You Want to Play Afro-beat: Afro-beat’s Musical History and Structural Elements” might sound interesting on their own, but the Mirror spoke to bandleader Martin Antibalas to get a better understanding of what to expect.

Mirror: What is the basis for using Afro-beat as a weapon of the future?
Martin Antibalas: First of all, it’s dance music, and people like to dance—they need to dance.
So immediately, that directness cuts through a lot of the apathy, the callousness and cynicism that a lot of people justifiably have regarding our position in the world. If you’re out there shouting, it might not cut through, but if they’re dancing and their bodies are engaged in the music, it’s a lot easier to reach them with other messages. That’s what Fela did, and that’s what we strive to do. We’re a multi-cultural band from New York, living in the United States, living in the First World, dealing with the different political backgrounds that our immediate audiences have. Embedded in Afro-beat are messages of resistance, struggle, self-knowledge and valuing your culture. It helps to shatter the pattern of consumption, brainwashing and apathy.

M: How do you translate these fundamentals in the workshop?
MA: We kind of just break it down the way I’m talking to you right now, using some audio examples and pieces of Fela’s music, we have people engage in exercises with the fundamentals of Afro-beat. What makes Afro-beat Afro-beat? Because Fela was singing to West African audiences, he was either singing in Yoruba or pidgin English, so there’s a lot of translation that is really helpful. Little words that mean so much to understanding where the song is coming from. We also talk about our own obstacles and struggles in trying to do this on our own. We owe it all to Fela, but we’re not a Fela tribute band.

M: Is it possible to teach someone how to play Afro-beat in one afternoon sitting?
MA: No. Not at all. It’s a starting point, something that really hasn’t been done before.
It’s cool that musicians in New York and all across the West Coast are now accepting Afro-beat as a form, getting into it, learning it and expressing themselves through it. It’s a powerful form. It’s not something you can do in your bedroom with an MPC 2000. In order to make it happen, you need to establish a community of musicians first, master your instruments and build. It’s the same process you use to build your outlook on the world. :

With Debbie Young and Andy Williams at le Spectrum on Friday, Sept. 13, 9pm, $20 (free with Concordia student ID). Workshops at the 7th floor faculty lounge of Concordia’s Hall Building (1455 de Maisonneuve), Friday, Sept. 13, 3–6pm, free (mandatory pre-registration: orientationworkshops@yahoo.ca)

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