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★★★★★

4.9

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746 reviews

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In a world that’s on fire, what is the role of art? What can music actually…do? Can a song save a life? Change a law? Topple a president? Get you killed? In Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, Jad Abumrad—creator of Radiolab, More Perfect, and Dolly Parton's America—tells the story of one of the great political awakenings in music: how a classically trained 'colonial boy' traveled to America, in search of Africa, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a battering ram against the state—creating a new musical language of resistance called Afrobeat. For years, the world’s biggest stars made pilgrimages to Nigeria to experience Fela’s Shrine, the epicenter of his musical revolution. But when the mix of art and activism got too hot, the state pulled out its guns, and literally opened fire. Fela Kuti: Fear No Man is an uncategorizable mix of oral history, musicology, deep dive journalism, and cutting edge sound design that takes listeners deep inside Fela’s life, music, and legacy. Drawing from over 200 interviews with Fela Kuti’s family, friends, as well as scholars, activists, and luminaries like Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Santigold, and former President Barack Obama (just to name a few), Fela Kuti: Fear No Man journeys deep into the soul of Afrobeat to explore the transformative power of art and the role artists can play in this current moment of global unrest. An Audible Original presented by Audible and Higher Ground. Produced by Western Sound and Talkhouse. ©2025 Higher Ground, LLC (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC.

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Check latest episodes from Fela Kuti: Fear No Man podcast

To Hell and Back

2025/10/15

Fela’s music had the power to move hearts, change minds, and in the case of one man, heal the deepest wounds. Audio clip of Ayo Edebiri courtesy of Sundance Institute. Used by Permission. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Becoming Fela

2025/10/15

Every superhero – and superstar – has an origin story. For Fela, it happened in 1969 Los Angeles, where a potent mix of music and politics turned a “missionary boy” into a Pan-Africanist freedom fighter and ignited a musical firestorm. Voice of America audio clips courtesy of voanews.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Enter the Shrine

2025/10/22

Fela’s club, The Shrine, was an oasis of freedom amidst a brutal dictatorship. Once inside – and on the dancefloor – the music intoxicated, enraptured and, ultimately, inspired resistance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vengeance of the Vagina Head

2025/10/22

Origin story part 2. The “ideological genealogy” of Fela’s revolution actually extends back farther than 1969. Fela’s began twenty years earlier, when he was an 8 year old boy watching his mom make history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trickster Makes the World

2025/10/29

Fela was known almost as much for his hijinx as he was for his music. He took aim at the powers-that-be and, over and over, paid for it in blood. And yet, every provocation served as creative inspiration. Audio clip of Konkombe courtesy Harcourt Films Ltd. Lijadu Sisters appear courtesy of Secretly Publishing and Numero Group. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Queens

2025/11/05

According to some, the key to Afrobeat was its women. And one of the keys to understanding this “very complicated” man is how Fela both liberated and oppressed the women closest to him, depending on who you ask. Audio clip of Ayo Edebiri courtesy of Sundance Institute. Used by Permission. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense

2025/11/12

As Fela’s campaign against the state begins to take form, three young lieutenants rise up to lead his political charge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Zombie

2025/11/12

In January, 1976, Fela drops his most fiery, confrontational song – “Zombie” is a blistering attack on the army, soldiers, and everyone who “just follows orders” to protect those in power. The song inspires ordinary Nigerians to stand up against tyranny wherever they see it — from traffic cops on the beat to the powerful general / head-of-state. And the response from the government — and its army — is almost immediate. Plus, an unreleased cover of “Zombie” from Santigold. (00:06) Zombie See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Things Will Collide

2025/11/19

After "Zombie," the military can no longer abide by Fela and his followers. A global celebration of Nigeria’s Pan-African ambitions turns into a brutal raid, torture and death, with thousands of people watching. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Death in His Pouch

2025/12/03

Fela told his followers that he could never die. So what happens when the unthinkable finally happens? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Endless Returns

2025/12/10

Thirty years after Fela’s death, Nigeria erupts — and Fela is again at the center of it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bloodline Covers

2025/12/17

Is Fela’s music actually a weapon of the future? What does his legacy tell us about the real power of art and the artist? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

African Counterpoint

2026/01/30

On the occasion of Fela's Lifetime Achievement Grammy, Jad is back to put his musical legacy in a very different context, with the help of Michael Veal, Randall Woolf, David Byrne and Brian Eno. Thanks to LSO Live on behalf of the London Symphony Orchestra See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introducing Fela Kuti: Fear No Man

2025/10/07

Follow Fela Kuti: Fear No Man on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Podcast reviews

Read Fela Kuti: Fear No Man podcast reviews

4.9 out of 5

746 reviews

★★★★★

Teo-eo-eo 2026/02/03

Extraordinary

One of the best-told stories in any medium that I’ve experienced in a long time. There are so few highly produced African stories of this caliber, dep...

★★★★★

Lord Ruphus 2026/02/01

Exceptional

An exceptionally well put together narrative, taking the listener on a journey of the mind, hearts and ears!

★★★★★

adrained 2026/01/30

Spirals and Circles

I loved the spirals and the circles that this show takes us through - musically, culturally, personally. So many beautiful voices taking us through th...

★★★★★

Florico9ja 2026/01/28

A Gripping and Emotional listen!!

As a kid who grew up in Nigeria back in the 80s and 90s, I lived part of Fela’s experiences, listened to and sang along to a lot of his songs and also...

★★★★★

Nj house buyers 2026/01/18

Masterful storytelling

I’m a fan of Jad’s other work. But this was something different. Not just great source material. There is exceptional craft on display here. Well done...

★★★★★

scargodie 2026/01/16

Amazing series

Jad is an amazing storyteller. As good or better than his Dolly Parton series. Thank you!

★★★★★

YR-A 2026/01/16

SO FREAKING GOOD

The detail, the care, the storytelling *chef’s kiss*. Kudos to the team behind bringing us this thorough and balanced portrayal of Fela. It was such a...

★★★★★

hvskbtjsguaoqheuxbfk 2026/01/15

One of my favorite podcasts ever!

Always been a HUGE fan of Jad and this might take the cake as my favorite of his work

★★★★★

Randall80 2026/01/13

Required listening

Do yourself a favor and put this on.

★★★★★

sporekisser 2026/01/10

A Masterpiece

I have been a fan of Fela Kuti’s music but was foggy on his life story. Every single person must Listen to this podcast…. It’s sooooo good