AfroFriday #8
Fela Kuti - Fogo Fogo
I'd like to be able to one day say that there isn't a Fela Kuti song that i haven't heard. For a little while i was starting to think that, until i came across this gem of a track. I've literally listened to this song on repeat for the last two weeks, and i don't think that's going to stop for a good while. From the repeating guitar riff, layered over the snare and drum kicks that drop in and out like exclamation points on the groove, this is Afrobeat at it's finest. The only thing that could be better than hearing this here is hearing it live. Which, i imagine, would be more raucous. The song is sort of a parable about people who would take advantage of your generosity and in the process cause you ruin. I'll set the scenario. You should also know, fogo, in Yoruba, means to break glass. So, Fela goes out with some people and he buys them drinks all night until he's out of money. These guests then get drunk and proceed to break the bottles of all that they've had, beer, whiskey, palm wine, etc, on the floor leaving the expense of repairs and clean up to Fela. The chorus "fogo fogo, ebe mi", essentially then is sarcastically speaking to the culprits saying that he'll assume responsibility for the glass breaking, but please believe, you fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice,.. well, you can't be fooled again. (i just had to one last time)
I'd like to be able to one day say that there isn't a Fela Kuti song that i haven't heard. For a little while i was starting to think that, until i came across this gem of a track. I've literally listened to this song on repeat for the last two weeks, and i don't think that's going to stop for a good while. From the repeating guitar riff, layered over the snare and drum kicks that drop in and out like exclamation points on the groove, this is Afrobeat at it's finest. The only thing that could be better than hearing this here is hearing it live. Which, i imagine, would be more raucous. The song is sort of a parable about people who would take advantage of your generosity and in the process cause you ruin. I'll set the scenario. You should also know, fogo, in Yoruba, means to break glass. So, Fela goes out with some people and he buys them drinks all night until he's out of money. These guests then get drunk and proceed to break the bottles of all that they've had, beer, whiskey, palm wine, etc, on the floor leaving the expense of repairs and clean up to Fela. The chorus "fogo fogo, ebe mi", essentially then is sarcastically speaking to the culprits saying that he'll assume responsibility for the glass breaking, but please believe, you fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice,.. well, you can't be fooled again. (i just had to one last time)
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