Zombie

1976～1977年にオリジナルがリリースされた『ゾンビ』。タイトル・トラック「Zombie」では、フェラとバック・ヴォーカルが軍隊の掛け声をからかっているのがわかる。
"Attention! Quick march! Slow march! Salute!(気を付け! 速足進め! 並み足! 敬礼! )"Fall in! Fall out! Fall down! Go and kill! Go and die! Go and quench!(整列!、解散しろ!、倒れ込め!、殺しに行け!、死にに行け!、消化しろ!)"とフェラが歌い、女性シンガーが都度"ゾンビ!"と答えるというもの。
そう、今作はナイジェリアの軍人を"ゾンビ"を隠喩して表現し、ナイジェリアの軍隊のやり方を歌ったアルバムなのだ。その結果政府を激怒させることとなり、フェラがナイジェリア国内で設立した生活共同体"カラクタ・リパブリック"への攻撃を引き起こしたが、裏を返せばそれだけの話題作となったということでもある。なお、その攻撃によってフェラはひどく負傷し、頭蓋骨を含む何本もの骨を骨折。当時77歳だった彼の母親は窓から放り投げられ、足に重傷を負っている。 さらに部隊は屋敷に火を点け、アフリカ '70のが所有する車6台、フェラの全てのマスター・テープ、バンドの機材、そしてレコーディング・スタジオをも破壊した。

Zombie was the most popular and impacting record that Fela Anikulopo Kuti and Africa 70 would record -- it ignited the nation to follow Fela's lead and antagonize the military zombies that had the population by the throat. Fela is direct and humorous in his attack as he barks out commands to the soldiers like: "Attention! Double up! Fall In! Fall out! Fall down! Get ready!" Meanwhile, his choir responds with "Zombie!" in between each statement. Since the groove was so absolutely contagious, it took the nation by storm: People in the street would put on a blank stare and walk with hands affront proclaiming "Zombie!" whenever they would see soldiers. If "Zombie" caught the attention of the populous it also cought the attention of the authority figures -- this would cause devastating personal and professional effects as the Nigerian government came down on him with absolute brute force not long after the release of this record. Also included are "Monkey Banana," a laid-back groove that showcases drummer Tony Allen's mastery of the Afro-beat, and "Everything Scatter," a standard mid-tempo romp. Both songs are forgetful in relation to "Zombie," but this is still an essential disc to own for the title track alone. ~ Sam Samuelson|