• Fela Kuti – Excuse-O
    • Fela Kuti – Mr Grammarticalogy - lisationalism Is The Boss
    • 1. Excuse-O
    • 2. Mr Grammarticalogy - lisationalism Is The Boss

    ‘Excuse O’ is about natural human reactions to situations we confront in our daily endeavours. If you walk into a bar, ask and pay for a drink and you happen to recognize a friend in the bar, you take time off your table to chat with this friend. While you are at it, another man walks over to your table and drinks your glass of beer, of course you turn round and find him drinking your beer, your reaction will be: ‘Excuse O!’ Same for the person who goes to withdraw five Naira (equivalent of US $5 at that time) from his bank, takes public transport, in the bus the person finds another man trying to pick his pocket, the obvious reaction is: ‘Excuse O!’ For the man who dates a woman for the first time, the situation is even more serious. Particularly since, on their date, he takes the woman to a swimming pool after which they have lunch, from lunch to cinema, from cinema to dinner. After dinner, the man again invites her to have a dance at the Shrine (Fela’s Club). Sitting at a table, after ordering drinks, another man comes to excuse his partner for a dance, he does not object to the first, the second he consents to grudgingly. A third dance? That is enough, Mr! ‘Excuse O!’ will be the reaction from the man.

    ‘Mr Grammarticalogylisationalism Is The Boss’ is another of Fela’s songs critical of the education system in Africa - which he called a poor imitation of the Western education system. The man who speaks better English gets paid more. Fela sings: “...the better oyinbo you talk! The more bread you get!” The brainwash starts from the ‘Big’ English words used in the newspapers...the oyinbo (English) wey dey inside!, na riddle for labourer man! Inside the paper! Jargonism dey! (meaning there is a lot of jargon). Irrelevant issue that has no bearing towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor man on the street. Then the leaders blame the poor man’s problems on ‘ignorance’ and ‘delinquency’. Fela asks: “...who be delinquent? Na them delinquent!

    Other Releases by Fela Kuti

    Fela KutiUp Side DownKnitting Factory Records
    Upside Down’ and ‘Zombie’, both released in 1976, were made at the midpoint of an extraordinary three-year purple period during which Fela recorded...
    • – Up Side Down
    • – Go Slow
    • Original LP£80.00
      Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VGOriginal Pre-Owned Out-of-Print UK/Nigerian Vinyl, sleeve wear, creasing, spine wear, small tears at opening, vinyl good
      In stockAdd to Bag
    • LP KFR2023-1£22.99
      In stockAdd to Bag
    Fela KutiIkoyi BlindnessKnitting Factory Records
    Fela used the cover of ‘Ikoyi Blindness’ to announce his change of middle name from Ransome, which he now considered a slave name, to Anikulapo, which...
    • – Ikoyi Blindness
    • – Gba Mi Leti Ki N'Dolowo (Slap Me Make I Get Money)
    Fela KutiO.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)Knitting Factory Records
    ‘Overtake Don Overtake Overtake’ was the penultimate album of newly recorded studio material released by Fela before he passed in 1997.Like its immediate...
      Fela KutiNoise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
      The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. ‘Noise For Vendor Mouth’ is Fela’s...
      • – Noise For Vendor Mouth
      • – Mattress
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2019-3£20.99
        In stockAdd to Bag
      Fela KutiWhy Black Man They SufferKnitting Factory Records
      ‘Why Black Man Dey Suffer’, recorded in 1971, was originally deemed too controversial for release by EMI, his label at the time. Having recently been...
      • – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
      • – Ikoyi Mentality vs Mushin Mentality
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2012-3£20.99
        In stockAdd to Bag
      Fela KutiRoforofo Fight (50th Anniversary Edition)Partisan Records
      By 1972, when Music of Fela: Roforofo Fight was originally released (on two vinyl albums, Music of Fela Volume One and Volume Two), Fela was becoming one...
      • – Roforofo Fight
      • – Go Slow
      • New 2×LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2006-8£26.00
        Limited yellow & green vinyl edition
        In stockAdd to Bag
      Fela KutiOpen & CloseKnitting Factory Records
      Reissue of Fela's highly sought-after 1971 album, 'Open & Close'! Super-funky Afrobeat featuring the incredible title track!
      • – Open And Close
      • – Suegbe And Pako
      • – Gbagada Gbogodo
      Fela KutiArmy ArrangementKnitting Factory Records
      Fela Kuti stories Nigeria’s attempt at ‘democracy’ in 1979 after more than a decade ofmilitary rule told through this album, originally released...
      • – Army arrangement (vocal)
      Fela KutiCoffin For Head Of StateKnitting Factory Records
      Fela Kuti made some frantic albums in his career--ones that popped with his enthusiastic political disobedience and ones that roared with fury at the Nigerian...
      • – Coffin For Head Of State part 1
      Fela KutiJ.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) Live!! At Kalakuta RepublikKnitting Factory Records
      Originally released in 1977, ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ features Fela lampooning Nigeria’s ‘been-tos’, people who had been to Europe or America...
        • LP + Download Code KFR2026-1£20.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        Fela KutiNo AgreementKnitting Factory Records
        ‘No Agreement’ is sometimes overlooked among Fela’s 1977 releases, eclipsed by albums such as ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ and ‘Sorrow Tears...
        • – No Agreement
        • – Dog Eat Dog
        • LP + Download Code KFR2007-1£20.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        Fela KutiUnderground SystemKnitting Factory Records
        Reissue of one of Fela's later recordings, comprised of two extended tracks, the title cut and the classic, 'Pansa Pansa'.
        • – Underground System
        • – Pansa Pansa
        Fela KutiZombieKnitting Factory Records
        On the title track Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform over an urgent, quick-march accompaniment from Afrika 70. The album...
        • – Zombie
        • – Mr. Follow Follow (Mister Follow Follow)
        Fela KutiAlagbon Close Knitting Factory
        Unmissable classic afro-beat! Alagbon Close represents one of the first times anyone had directly taken on the Nigerian authorities in such a brash manner!   
        • – alagbon close
        • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2011-8£22.99
          50th anniversary special - Jollof orange vinyl
          In stockAdd to Bag
        Fela KutiNa PoiKnitting Factory Records
        Hypnotic afrobeat bullet from 1972 - recorded in Lagos. Sprited percussion, tight horns, and pure funk! As with most of the great man's albums, this is...
        • – na poi (part 1)
        • – na poi (part 2)
        • – you no go die...unless
        Fela KutiTeacher Don't Teach Me NonsenseKnitting Factory Records
        In 'Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense', Fela explains the role of the teacher in any society with the concept that all the things we consider to be problems...
        • – Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense
        Fela KutiAlagbon Close / Why Black Man Dey SufferKnitting Factory
        Alagbon Close represents one of the first times anyone had directly taken on the Nigerian authorities in such a brash manner. Why Black Man Dey Suffer:...
        • – Alagbon Close
        Fela KutiOpen & Close / AfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
        Two classic Afro-beat albums on one bargain price CD! All Fela Kuti's albums are superb! Highly recommended!
        • – Open & Close
        Fela KutiOriginal Suffer Head And I.T.TKnitting Factory Records
        Yet more essential afrobeat from the African equivalent of James Brown! All his albums are great!
        • – I T T
        Fela KutiEverything Scatter / Noise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
        The king of afro beat does it again! Two essential classic albums on one budget CD!
          Fela KutiYellow FeverKnitting Factory Records
          Yellow Fever’ was originally released in 1976, during Fela’s extraordinarily prolific 1975-77 purple period, when he released 24 albums in Nigeria...
          • – Yellow Fever
          • – Na Poi ‘75

          Other Releases on Knitting Factory Records

          Fela KutiUp Side DownKnitting Factory Records
          Upside Down’ and ‘Zombie’, both released in 1976, were made at the midpoint of an extraordinary three-year purple period during which Fela recorded...
          • – Up Side Down
          • – Go Slow
          • Original LP£80.00
            Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VGOriginal Pre-Owned Out-of-Print UK/Nigerian Vinyl, sleeve wear, creasing, spine wear, small tears at opening, vinyl good
            In stockAdd to Bag
          • LP KFR2023-1£22.99
            In stockAdd to Bag
          Fela KutiIkoyi BlindnessKnitting Factory Records
          Fela used the cover of ‘Ikoyi Blindness’ to announce his change of middle name from Ransome, which he now considered a slave name, to Anikulapo, which...
          • – Ikoyi Blindness
          • – Gba Mi Leti Ki N'Dolowo (Slap Me Make I Get Money)
          Fela KutiO.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)Knitting Factory Records
          ‘Overtake Don Overtake Overtake’ was the penultimate album of newly recorded studio material released by Fela before he passed in 1997.Like its immediate...
            Fela KutiNoise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
            The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. ‘Noise For Vendor Mouth’ is Fela’s...
            • – Noise For Vendor Mouth
            • – Mattress
            • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2019-3£20.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            Fela KutiWhy Black Man They SufferKnitting Factory Records
            ‘Why Black Man Dey Suffer’, recorded in 1971, was originally deemed too controversial for release by EMI, his label at the time. Having recently been...
            • – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
            • – Ikoyi Mentality vs Mushin Mentality
            • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2012-3£20.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            Fela KutiOpen & CloseKnitting Factory Records
            Reissue of Fela's highly sought-after 1971 album, 'Open & Close'! Super-funky Afrobeat featuring the incredible title track!
            • – Open And Close
            • – Suegbe And Pako
            • – Gbagada Gbogodo
            Fela KutiArmy ArrangementKnitting Factory Records
            Fela Kuti stories Nigeria’s attempt at ‘democracy’ in 1979 after more than a decade ofmilitary rule told through this album, originally released...
            • – Army arrangement (vocal)
            Fela KutiCoffin For Head Of StateKnitting Factory Records
            Fela Kuti made some frantic albums in his career--ones that popped with his enthusiastic political disobedience and ones that roared with fury at the Nigerian...
            • – Coffin For Head Of State part 1
            Fela KutiJ.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) Live!! At Kalakuta RepublikKnitting Factory Records
            Originally released in 1977, ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ features Fela lampooning Nigeria’s ‘been-tos’, people who had been to Europe or America...
              • LP + Download Code KFR2026-1£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiNo AgreementKnitting Factory Records
              ‘No Agreement’ is sometimes overlooked among Fela’s 1977 releases, eclipsed by albums such as ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ and ‘Sorrow Tears...
              • – No Agreement
              • – Dog Eat Dog
              • LP + Download Code KFR2007-1£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiUnderground SystemKnitting Factory Records
              Reissue of one of Fela's later recordings, comprised of two extended tracks, the title cut and the classic, 'Pansa Pansa'.
              • – Underground System
              • – Pansa Pansa
              Fela KutiZombieKnitting Factory Records
              On the title track Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform over an urgent, quick-march accompaniment from Afrika 70. The album...
              • – Zombie
              • – Mr. Follow Follow (Mister Follow Follow)
              Fela KutiNa PoiKnitting Factory Records
              Hypnotic afrobeat bullet from 1972 - recorded in Lagos. Sprited percussion, tight horns, and pure funk! As with most of the great man's albums, this is...
              • – na poi (part 1)
              • – na poi (part 2)
              • – you no go die...unless
              Fela KutiTeacher Don't Teach Me NonsenseKnitting Factory Records
              In 'Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense', Fela explains the role of the teacher in any society with the concept that all the things we consider to be problems...
              • – Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense
              Fela KutiOpen & Close / AfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
              Two classic Afro-beat albums on one bargain price CD! All Fela Kuti's albums are superb! Highly recommended!
              • – Open & Close
              Fela KutiOriginal Suffer Head And I.T.TKnitting Factory Records
              Yet more essential afrobeat from the African equivalent of James Brown! All his albums are great!
              • – I T T
              Fela KutiEverything Scatter / Noise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
              The king of afro beat does it again! Two essential classic albums on one budget CD!
                Fela KutiYellow FeverKnitting Factory Records
                Yellow Fever’ was originally released in 1976, during Fela’s extraordinarily prolific 1975-77 purple period, when he released 24 albums in Nigeria...
                • – Yellow Fever
                • – Na Poi ‘75