Ian Watts
Photography
Fela Kuti Box Set 5
I am pleased that some of my unpublished photos of Fela Kuti have been used in the vinyl album Fela Box Set #5. It was co-curated by Fela's son, world-renowned multi-instrumentalist and Afrobeat ambassador, Femi Kuti, alongside Chris Martin (Coldplay). It’s an impressive collection of 7 great albums from his back catalogue, including Kalakuta Show, and Original Sufferhead.
My Fela photos have been used on the front and back covers of the large accompanying 20-page booklet, plus used inside as a double page spread. The booklet has detailed background notes and song lyrics.
Included in the box are 7 Vinyl LPs, and the artwork for each album has been meticulously recreated from the original vinyl pressings, alongside vintage vinyl label artwork, plus the full-colour booklet. The poster was designed by Nigerian artist Lemi Ghariokwu, the creative force behind 29 of Fela‘s album covers.
This fifth volume of Felas music also includes Why Black Man Dey Suffer, Noise for Vendor Mouth, Excuse O, Ikoyi Blindness, and Overtake Don Overtake Overtake. The box set was released in December 2021 in a limited edition of 4000 copies worldwide.