Seun Kuti captures a continent's discontent in "Struggle Sounds" EP

jonathan

October 4, 2016 10:26 AM

Sonically warm and immersive, “Struggle Sounds” EP marks another high point for a band that keeps up its role as our society’s conscience, the mouthpiece of the African struggle, and in many ways God’s very voice on earth.

Seun Kuti "Struggle sounds" EP artwork

EP – Struggle SoundsArtiste – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80Guests – NilProducers – Seun Kuti, Robert GlasperRecord Label – Sony Music Entertainment (2016)Duration – 25 minutes

Seun Kuti who is sufficiently vocal about the Nigerian government on social media and every other platform is really popular for his affiliation with conscious music – A genre that was pioneered by his father, Fela Anikulakpo Kuti.

The Afrobeat torchbearer releases this conscious effort backed by Egypt 80, the band he took over from his father, Fela, that has stayed loyal to him. The new EP was co-produced by Robert Glasper, who also did production work for Seun’s last album “A Long Way To The Beginning.”

“Struggle Sounds” is wonderfully exuberant as Seun speaks for the disenfranchised. The music is political, entrancing and immersive, and is crafted for an audience both home and abroad. Each stretches past the 7-minute mark, bearing heavy horns, probing drums and more.

Frontman Seun sings protest music, using the Nigerian filter to touch on core issues about the African continent and its spirit. His confidence is palpable on the title track’s traditional percussive bounce, with its jazz-fusion intro and lyrics that mix dancing with calls for a revolution, while the the political-charged lead single ‘Gimme my vote back (C.P.C.D.)’—C.P.C.D. an acronym for Corporate Public Control Department is an electrifying blur of diversions, crescendos, and dynamics. This is directed at the much-maligned Nigerian government led by Muhammadu Buhari.

As always, there are moments of elegance among jazzy snooze of ‘African Dreams’ is a graceful emotional call to the youths. Seun calls on the lifeblood of the continent’s human resource to embrace Afrocentrism, and minimalism in lifestyle choices, and stand up for the oppressed.