SPILL BOOK REVIEW: JIBOLA FAGBAMIYE & CONOR McCREERY – FELA: MUSIC IS THE WEAPON

JIBOLA FAGBAMIYE & CONOR McCREERY – FELA: MUSIC IS THE WEAPON

AMISTAD

BOOK REVIEW BY GERROD HARRIS

Fela Kuti is a revolutionary figure, both musically and politically. As an artist, he pioneered the creation of Afrobeat, the sound of American funk, jazz, and R&B through a Nigerian lens, while, politically, he stood as a vocal symbol against oppression amid military oppression. His life truly is one unbelievable story after another, culminating with a vibrant and enduring legacy that remains relevant today, even 28 years following his passing. As such, his life is the subject of a new graphic novel, Fela: Music Is The Weapon from author Conor  and artist Jibola Fagbamiye. The Toronto-based duo have delivered a thematically powerful book that celebrates the life and art of Kuti.

Fela: Music Is The Weapon follows the rise, fall, and redemption of Kuti; championing his music and dedication to political action, while also highlighting his hypocrisies, which, ultimately, gives a broader and far more authentic scope to the life of the central protagonist. What separates this book from a majority of other biographical endeavours, however, is that Fela: Music Is The Weapon is told through a post-colonial lens. Impressively, especially when considering the limitations of the graphic novel context,  McCreery provides a strong analysis of intersectionality and the influencing power dynamics of race, gender, socio-economic class, and religion within the political framework of Nigerian military rule. Through this, McCreery has crafted a very well-researched and gripping story that is equally about Kuti as it is Africanism, only embellishing a handful of aspects, which are justified in a final note from the author.

Immediately, upon opening the book, the reader is greeted by a stunning collection of panels that traverse cosmic realms, beyond the confines of reality, to explore a spiritual, pan-African landscape that pulls elements from modern surrealism and comic book illustrations, told through a gorgeous pallet of watercolours. Fagbamiye’s artwork is nothing short of exceptional, while creating a visually distinct aesthetic that is not only a highly effective visual component to McCreery’s narrative but sets Fela: Music Is The Weapon apart from its contemporaries. While the story told within these pages was nothing short of riveting, I was constantly left in awe of the artwork, which allowed for Kuti’s story to come off the page perhaps like never before. While McCreery could have chosen to tell this story in a variety of formats, the choice of a graphic novel fully allows for him to use culturally relevant imagery and symbolism as a means of enhancing his narrative through the art of McCreery, making for a truly engaging literary experience.

Fela: Music Is The Weapon is a vitally important book. Through focusing on Kuti, Fagbamiye and McCreery have navigated the importance of decolonization while warning of the dangers of oppression in a global context. Through intersectionality, there is a greater level of depth to their exploration. The result is a narrative that captures the soaring highs and bellowing lows of Kuti’s life, furthering his impressive legacy with a message of education and kindness.

ISBN-13:‎ 9780063058798

PURCHASE JIBOLA FAGBAMIYE & CONOR McCREERY – FELA: MUSIC IS THE WEAPON HERE, HERE OR VIA