Fela Quotes & Sayings

Africa must remain on the path of democracy. But democracy MUST also remain about the PEOPLE, not about power — Fela Durotoye

A nation is not defined by its borders or the boundaries of its land mass Rather, a nation is defined by adverse people who have been unified by a cause and a value system and who are committed to a vision for the type of society they wish to live in and give to the future generations to come. — Fela Durotoye

Music is a spiritual thing, you don't play with music. If you play with music you will die young. You see, because when the higher forces give you the gift of music ... musicians hip, it must be well used for the gift of humanity. — Fela Kuti

Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela Kuti videos, just to see how he performed. He inspired me a lot, actually, because he was a man of many words, many good words. — King Krule

When your EFFORT results in the DESIRED EFFECT, then you have WORKED — Fela Durotoye

Music is the weapon. Music is the weapon of the future. — Fela Kuti

There was a pointed silence from Ambrose, so I lowered my shirt and turned to face Fela, ignoring him entirely. "My lady scriv," I said to her with a bow. A very slight bow, as my back wouldn't permit a deep one. "Would you be so good as to help me locate a book concerning women? I have been instructed by my betters to inform myself on this most subtle subject." Fela gave a faint smile and relaxed a bit. — Patrick Rothfuss

There's a place for talking and criticism. But there's also a place to let our ACTIONS do the talking! — Fela Durotoye

Great Leaders do NOT break the law, not because of the fear of being caught but because of the fear of God & love for the land — Fela Durotoye

Nigeria 2025 is not a national cake we hope to all share, its a cake we must be ready to bake — Fela Durotoye

Individual effort is good but collective effort is better. We need a NETWORK of nation builders — Fela Durotoye

There are many countries but few nations. We are committed to building Nigeria into a most desirable nation to live — Fela Durotoye

Many men have children, but not many children have 'Fathers'. Age releases to you reproductive skills. Fatherhood requires LEADERSHIP skills — Fela Durotoye

Your Potential is all that you can HAVE but have not yet possessed. No limits. No boundaries — Fela Durotoye

If it is not fit to live in, then our job is to make it fit. — Fela Kuti

To be spiritual is not by praying and going to church. Spiritualism is the understanding of the universe so that it can be a better place to live in. — Fela Kuti

The challenge has always been that "good people" don't know how to win elections — Fela Durotoye

Not everything in your past qualifies to be called HISTORY; only the things in the past that shaped your FUTURE — Fela Durotoye

Listening to the type of music I grew up with, like King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti and experiencing different things and conditions and hardship, as well as the good times in Nigeria, has definitely carved me into who I am. — Nneka

In all, Nigeria belongs to us all and we have a personal responsibility to see that it succeeds — Fela Durotoye

We must be the ones to re-define the world class standards of excellence — Fela Durotoye

Strong nations are built on SOLID HOMES not big houses — Fela Durotoye

Leadership is a SERVING relationship with OTHERS that inspires THEIR growth and makes the world a better place — Fela Durotoye

Paradox ... Rich in natural resources but poor in the quality of our human resource — Fela Durotoye

TODAY is the PAST of your FUTURE. So, make TODAY count for the sake of your HISTORY. Use your words, time & choices wisely — Fela Durotoye

In the innovation age customer experience is key. Your impression defines their expression — Fela Durotoye

Be a solution provider and not a part of the problem to be solved — Fela Durotoye

We must train our 'future candidates' on not only how to win elections but how to govern well. — Fela Durotoye

A radical is he who has no sense ... fights without reason ... I have a reason. I am authentic. Yes, that's what I am. — Fela Kuti

Our nation is ripe with a multitude of successful people, who have achieved much for themselves with little impact on anyone else — Fela Durotoye

Music is a weapon of the future / music is the weapon of the progressives / music is the weapon of the givers of life — Fela Kuti

Every barren land is a VISION waiting for a VISIONARY — Fela Durotoye

My people are scared of the air around them, they always have an excuse not to fight for freedom, — Fela Kuti

Withheld potential is a "CRIME TO HUMANITY — Fela Durotoye

When you don't know where you are going in life (No Clear Destination), you don't need direction ... you need Divine Revelation — Fela Durotoye

We need to adopt a set of common values and be ready to live out those values — Fela Durotoye

To be honest and truthful in all endeavours is an experience, not a regret — Fela Kuti

Good People' need to have manifestations (track record of impact) not just manifestos (intention) — Fela Durotoye

You cannot sing African music in proper English — Fela Kuti

LIGHT has no value without darkness, just as a SOLUTION has no value without a problem — Fela Durotoye

There is nothing worse than climbing a ladder to the top, only to discover that it is leaning on the wrong wall. That is DEFECTIVE SUCCESS. — Fela Durotoye

The secret of life is to have no fear. — Fela Kuti

Success may be measured by things (prosperity, property, positions, possessions) but GREATNESS (Leadership) can only be measured by PEOPLE. — Fela Durotoye

Real Fathers are men of integrity & honour. Their word is their bond. — Fela Durotoye

As a nation, we will only become the shining light to the world with the emergence of more and more role models worthy of emulation by all — Fela Durotoye

Your Potential is an OBLIGATION.Its what you MUST be,do and have because you CAN. You Can, you Must, You will — Fela Durotoye

That is my best friend because it is a gift of the creator to Africans. It is a spirit. Marijuana has five fingers of creation ... it enhances all your five senses. — Fela Kuti

Great nations are built by great people, not just successful people — Fela Durotoye

Life never gives you what you deserve but what you decided. — Tara Fela-Durotoye

An enlightened and empowered generation is the key to our development in Nigeria and indeed in Africa — Fela Durotoye

A year from today, it will be Good if your life is positively different, but GREAT if your life has made a positive difference on others — Fela Durotoye

In Nigeria they convict by law, not by the truth — Fela Kuti

Many people read History books but it takes just a few people to LEAD the cause that will shape the course of HISTORY. — Fela Durotoye

Real Fathers are men of integrity & honour. Their word is their bond. — Fela Durotoye

Real Fathers make a positive impact on their generation, and so give the next generation the advantage of a better nation to live in — Fela Durotoye

When you're in prison, you can't do anything about what's happening outside. — Fela Kuti

I want peace. Happiness. Not only for myself. For everybody. — Fela Kuti

We must see the new Nigeria The Nigeria We Want we must accept personal responsibility to build it — Fela Durotoye

The music of Africa is big sound: it's the sound of a community — Fela Kuti

Africa and indeed Nigeria has always been a paradox, an inexplicable contraction of a blessed land with a poor masses — Fela Durotoye

Seek and achieve "GREATNESS" instead of mere success — Fela Durotoye

I hold death in my pouch, I cannot die. — Fela Kuti

I don't tell lies about anybody. That's why i win all my wars. — Fela Kuti

I refuse to live my life in fear ... — Fela Kuti

For every stage and season of your life, PURPOSE will always create a Vacuum that you are wired & equipped to fill. Find Your Vacuum and Fill it. — Fela Durotoye

What you owe your critics are your RESULTS not explanations not defence just RESULTS.Evidence terminates Arguments. — Fela Durotoye

Stuff like Buena Vista Social Club and Fela Kuti were quite a main thing to my childhood. As soon as I reached an age where I realized that Fela was singing in English, when I got past his accent, I loved the rawness of it, and the funk and the rhythm and the melody. — King Krule

Everyone including YOU suffers when you refuse to BE all & DO all you can — Fela Durotoye

If the path you are walking today won't lead you to your desired destination, then you are STROLLING — Fela Durotoye

The Fela Kuti Queens - the band members and wives of the late African musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti - are my fashion icons. — Solange Knowles

It would be inadmissible if I would vent my opinion publicly. Not only could I harm the artist concerned seriously because people have so much respect for me and believe in me because of my musical accomplishments. And I could also antagonize people against me, because everyone has his own taste. We all make music, people can choose from that what they like. Every musician likes his own music the best, man. I don't want to attack that. I don't mind criticism, I can handle it, but most people can't. — Fela Kuti

This isn't the hand of some swooning princess who sits tatting lace and waiting for some prince to save her. This is the hand of a woman who would climb a rope of her own hair to freedom, or kill a captor ogre in his sleep. And this is the hand of a woman who would have made it through the fire on her own if I hadn't been there. Singed perhaps, but safe. — Patrick Rothfuss

It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice — Fela Durotoye

We used to play a lot of Fela Kuti in the early days of hip-hop. In my DJ sets I'll jump off into rock, salsa, African. I like to play some crazy stuff and see the vibrations of the people. — Afrika Bambaataa

As we drove back to Enugu, I laughed loudly,above Fela's stringent singing. I laughed because Nsukka's untarred roads coat cars with dust in the harmattan and with sticky mud in the rainy season. Because the tarred roads spring potholes like surprise presents and the air smells of hills and history and the sunlight scatters the sand and turns it into gold dust. Because Nsukka could free something deep inside your belly that would rise up to your throat and come out as freedom song. As laughter.(299) — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Life is a JOURNEY, not a Stroll — Fela Durotoye

With my music, I create change ... I am using my music as a weapon. — Fela Kuti

What we need now is a nation of great people who live to positively impact others and build enduring legacies — Fela Durotoye

Despite the turbulence our nation has experienced, we WILL arrive safely and without incident! — Fela Durotoye

I must identify myself with Africa. Then I will have an identity. — Fela Kuti

I could never leave my home ... It inspires me a lot. — Fela Kuti

If your Idea cannot CHANGE the INDUSTRY, you have added no VALUE — Fela Durotoye

Houses are built brick-by-brick. HOMEs are built word-by-word. Houses don't build themselves. So YOU must build your home — Fela Durotoye

THE HOT (AND SERIOUSLY COOL) ENERGY that comes from the musical gospel preached by the title character of FELA! feels as if it could stretch easily to the borders of Manhattan and then across a river or two. There should be dancing in the streets! — Ben Brantley

Without Purpose, LIVING is downgraded to Breathing a boring routine of inhaling oxygen - waiting to exhale — Fela Durotoye

99.9% of the information you get about Africa is wrong — Fela Kuti

Nigerians must have the dream, believe the dream, live the dream and work to build the dream — Fela Durotoye

Our nation Nigeria CAN & MUST become a great place to live, otherwise we will have to answer to more than just the next generation — Fela Durotoye

No nation has ever been able to transform by chance. Its always a deliberate and conscious process — Fela Durotoye

Direction is only necessary when your destination is certain but the path to get there isn't clear to you — Fela Durotoye

To achieve this incredible feat of building Nigeria, we must all truly desire to see it happen — Fela Durotoye

If you start to see more successful businesses that are playing on a global level, the story of Africa will begin to change — Tara Fela-Durotoye

Real Fathers are Role Models worthy of emulation. They choose to live exemplary lifestyles of leadership and excellence — Fela Durotoye