Fela Kuti V.I.P. (Vagabonds in Power)

    Knitting Factory Records
      • 1. V.I.P. (Part I)
      • 2. V.I.P. (Part II)

      Performed by Fela and his Afrika 70 at the renowned Berlin Jazz Festival in 1978, this live recording of V.I.P. is possibly Fela’s most profound vilification of the Nigerian government. In his very public address to the European crowd, Fela explains that V.I.P., in this context, stands for “vagabonds in power”, a direct jab both at the Nigerian authorities and power structure, as well as the ruling class; this was also to be the last performance of Afrika 70.

      Other Releases by Fela Kuti

      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)£26.00
        Limited yellow & green vinyl edition
        In stockAdd to Bag
      Fela KutiBoxset #5: Co-curated by Chris Martin & Femi KutiKnitting Factory Records
      Knitting Factory Records release the next installment of long-awaited vinyl reissues from the Fela Kuti catalog. Box Set #5 was co-curated by Fela’s...
        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
        • CD£7.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        • LP£19.00
          Gatefold sleeve
          Out of stock
        Fela KutiBeasts Of No NationKalakuta Records
        Afrobeat classic! After helping Fela Anikulapo Kuti with Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Wally Badarou then produced Beasts of No Nation. 
        • – beats of no nation (vocal)
        • Original LP£50.00
          Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VG+Original Eurobond pressing in shrink, with original inner, in great condition, old price sticker on front
          Out of stock
        • LP£13.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        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)
        • LP + Download Code£20.99
          Out of stock
        • CD£7.99 £7.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        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
        • Original LP£8.00
          Vinyl condition: POORSleeve condition: POOROriginal Nigerian vinyl POOR CONDITION
          Out of stock
        • LP + Download Code£16.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        • CD£7.99 £7.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        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...
          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
          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
          • LP + Download Code£20.99
            Out of stock
          • CD£7.99 £8.99
            In stockAdd to Bag
          Fela KutiAfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
          1973 Nigerian afro beat funk at it's best from the master - Fela Kuti 
          • – Alu Jon Jonki Jon
          • – Eko Ile
          Fela KutiGentlemanKnitting Factory Records
          1973 Fela Kuti mastepiece - Absolutely essential!!!! 
          • Fela Kuti – Gentleman
          • Fela Kuti – Igbe
          • Fela Kuti – Fe Fe Ne Eye Fe
          Fela KutiI.T.T.Knitting Factory Records
          'International Thief Thief' classic Fela from 1979
            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
            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
            Fela KutiRoforofo Fight (2015 Reissue)Knitting Factory
            Essential afro beat! A dancefloor bomb! You need this!! KILLER REISSUE of Fela Kuti's 1972 album Roforofo Fight! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
            • – Roforofo Fight
            • – Go Slow
            Fela KutiEverything Scatter (2015 Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
            Another killer gem from the undisputed 'King Of Afrobeat' Fela Kuti! Originally released in 1975. Expect nothing less than perfection. Sweet locked-in...
            • – Everything Scatter
            • – Who No Know Go How
            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 KutiFela With Ginger Baker Live!Knitting Factory Records
            It's hard to go wrong with Fela Kuti's work from the 1970s, and LIVE!, which features the Afrobeat innovator backed by his powerhouse band Africa '70 and...
            • – Let's Start
            • – Black Man's Cry
            • – Ye Ye De Smell
            • – Egbe Mi O
            Fela KutiHe Miss Road (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
            He Miss Road', also 1975, was produced by Ginger Baker. A deep and darker shade of afro-beat that is one of Fela's best.
            • – He Miss Road
            • – Monday Morning In Lagos
            • – It's No Possible
            Fela KutiBeasts Of No Nation / O.D.O.OKnitting Factory Records
            After helping Fela Anikulapo Kuti with Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Wally Badarou then produced Beasts of No Nation. Another album that has been combined...
            • – Beasts Of No Nation
            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 KutiOpposite People / Sorrow Tears And BloodKnitting Factory Records
              Fela and Afrika 70 at their peak with two seminal albums on one disc. Rowsing, radical stuff as espoused by 'Colonial Mentality'.
                Fela KutiShuffering And Shmiling/No AgreementWrasse
                Two classic afro beat albums!
                • – Shuffering And Shmiling
                Fela KutiV.I.P (Vagabonds In Power) / Authority StealingKnitting Factory Records
                More afro beat classics from the master himself! Authority Stealing was actually inflammatory enough to initiate another round of beatings to Fela from...
                  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
                  • LP + Download Code£16.99
                    Out of stock
                  • CD£7.99 £7.99
                    In stockAdd to Bag

                  Other Releases on Knitting Factory Records

                  Fela KutiBoxset #5: Co-curated by Chris Martin & Femi KutiKnitting Factory Records
                  Knitting Factory Records release the next installment of long-awaited vinyl reissues from the Fela Kuti catalog. Box Set #5 was co-curated by Fela’s...
                    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
                    • CD£7.99
                      In stockAdd to Bag
                    • LP£19.00
                      Gatefold sleeve
                      Out of stock
                    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)
                    • LP + Download Code£20.99
                      Out of stock
                    • CD£7.99 £7.99
                      In stockAdd to Bag
                    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
                    • Original LP£8.00
                      Vinyl condition: POORSleeve condition: POOROriginal Nigerian vinyl POOR CONDITION
                      Out of stock
                    • LP + Download Code£16.99
                      In stockAdd to Bag
                    • CD£7.99 £7.99
                      In stockAdd to Bag
                    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...
                      Fela Kuti & Roy AyersMusic Of Many ColoursKnitting Factory Records
                      Reissue of the classic ‘Music Of Many Colours’, the joint album between Roy Ayers and Fela Kuti, recorded after a three week tour of Nigeria’s major...
                      • – 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free
                      • – Africa-Center Of The World
                      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
                      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
                      • LP + Download Code£20.99
                        Out of stock
                      • CD£7.99 £8.99
                        In stockAdd to Bag
                      Fela KutiAfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
                      1973 Nigerian afro beat funk at it's best from the master - Fela Kuti 
                      • – Alu Jon Jonki Jon
                      • – Eko Ile
                      Fela KutiGentlemanKnitting Factory Records
                      1973 Fela Kuti mastepiece - Absolutely essential!!!! 
                      • Fela Kuti – Gentleman
                      • Fela Kuti – Igbe
                      • Fela Kuti – Fe Fe Ne Eye Fe
                      Fela KutiI.T.T.Knitting Factory Records
                      'International Thief Thief' classic Fela from 1979
                        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
                        Fela KutiEverything Scatter (2015 Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
                        Another killer gem from the undisputed 'King Of Afrobeat' Fela Kuti! Originally released in 1975. Expect nothing less than perfection. Sweet locked-in...
                        • – Everything Scatter
                        • – Who No Know Go How
                        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 KutiFela With Ginger Baker Live!Knitting Factory Records
                        It's hard to go wrong with Fela Kuti's work from the 1970s, and LIVE!, which features the Afrobeat innovator backed by his powerhouse band Africa '70 and...
                        • – Let's Start
                        • – Black Man's Cry
                        • – Ye Ye De Smell
                        • – Egbe Mi O
                        Fela KutiHe Miss Road (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
                        He Miss Road', also 1975, was produced by Ginger Baker. A deep and darker shade of afro-beat that is one of Fela's best.
                        • – He Miss Road
                        • – Monday Morning In Lagos
                        • – It's No Possible
                        Fela KutiBeasts Of No Nation / O.D.O.OKnitting Factory Records
                        After helping Fela Anikulapo Kuti with Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Wally Badarou then produced Beasts of No Nation. Another album that has been combined...
                        • – Beasts Of No Nation
                        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 KutiOpposite People / Sorrow Tears And BloodKnitting Factory Records
                          Fela and Afrika 70 at their peak with two seminal albums on one disc. Rowsing, radical stuff as espoused by 'Colonial Mentality'.
                            Fela KutiV.I.P (Vagabonds In Power) / Authority StealingKnitting Factory Records
                            More afro beat classics from the master himself! Authority Stealing was actually inflammatory enough to initiate another round of beatings to Fela from...
                              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
                              • LP + Download Code£16.99
                                Out of stock
                              • CD£7.99 £7.99
                                In stockAdd to Bag