Fela Kuti - Noise for Vendor Mouth (Edit) '2022

Tracks list

       The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as
— ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. Noise For
Vendor Mouth is Fela’s indifference to that name calling because, for
him, people in Kalakuta are really a bunch of hard working citizens, trying to
survive in a society riddled with corruption and mismanagement. He adds that the
real hooligans are those in authority who resort to political gangsterism, and
sometimes military coups in order to resolve constitutional issues. He considers
their criticisms as nothing but the noise made by street vendors to sell their
wares.

Mattress: Fela has been accused by critics of not being concerned about the
issue of feminism and unequal status of the sexes thus keeping in line with
several traditions which they claim he arbitrarily upholds. Several issues, from
the African point of view, are counterpoise to Western modern look. Take
polygamy, Fela has been criticized for openly endorsing polygamy. How could a
man who campaigns against the unequal status of sexes and racism, endorse a male
domination. Fela’s justification for polygamy, apart from the traditional
repopulation from slavery of Africa’s society, is the polygamous nature
of man. Man is polygamous by nature. In Christian societies, where polygamy is
not tolerated, men marry officially with one woman but keep mistresses. African
men are more honest in their approach—keeping all the women in the know
and under one roof in the spirit of family. Songs like Mattress may not help
change Fela’s ‘macho’ image, but he is just making
comparisons. ‘…mattress! Anything wey we dey sleep on top! Call am
for me! Mattress…’. ‘e be mat! E be spring! E be bed! E be
cushion! Mattress! Mattress!’.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Fela Kuti, Afrika 70 - Noise for Vendor Mouth (Edit) (4:51)
1.02 - Fela Kuti, Afrika 70 - Noise for Vendor Mouth (15:23)

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