Femi Kuti 2001

With the release of Fight to Win, Nigeria's Femi Kuti has completely stepped out of the large shadow left by his later father, Fela. Whereas his previous record, Shoki Shoki was a frantic Afrobeat workout, the new record is more considered and varied, pulling not only from African rhythms and American funk, but also drawing on hip-hop, with guest spots from Mos Def, Common, and Jaguar Wright.

"They added more flavor," Kuti explained. "It's a bridge for Afrobeat, really, working with these people who've listened to my father, and who've heard me, and want to be identified with things in Africa, talking about peace, unity, and development. A good way to further that is through music, and this shows it's possible. I was delighted, all these guys are great people, and to have them on my album, is a great achievement for me."

"Leaders travel around the world, see things, but then go home and do nothing. If they put things in place for the next generation there'd be far less hatred in the world."

Someone else who brought a great deal to the album was the Beastie Boys keyboard player, Money Mark.

"We became friends during the Red Hot & Fela project. I told him I was working on my album, and asked if he'd come over to Paris, where we were recording. He said, "Yes, why not?" and I thought he was joking. Then he walked into the studio, and we had a ball."

The result offers some very personal tracks, like "'97," a memorial to the years when Kuti lost three relatives, and "Walk On The Right Side," about his mother's advice to him. But inevitably, much of the album in political, from the excoriating "Traitors Of Africa" to "The Choice Is Yours." However, politics is life to Kuti, especially in a post September 11 world.

"I wish it wasn't happening, but we need to work hard to bring about peace," he observed. "That's the objective of every leader. It's so sad that some people are fanatics in certain aspects, and that people are dying. Things are sad in Africa too, with leaders keeping the money, and not doing anything in terms of development for the people. We have to farm, or in a few years farming won't even exist there. There's so much to be done around the world for everyone. In Africa so many people are walking around hungry. Leaders travel around the world, see things, but then go home and do nothing. If they put things in place for the next generation there'd be far less hatred in the world."

Femi Kuti 2001

"Leaders travel around the world, see things, but then go home and do nothing. If they put things in place for the next generation there'd be far less hatred in the world."

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