SHE WAS FELA KUTI’S LOVER — AND ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT INFLUENCES

SHE WAS FELA KUTI’S LOVER — AND ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT INFLUENCES

SHE WAS FELA KUTI’S LOVER — AND ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT INFLUENCES

This photograph shows Sandra Akanke Izsadore in Togo in the 1970s — the American singer, dancer and Black Panther @ctivist who became an important teacher, associate and lover of Fela Ransome-Kuti.

Born Sandra Smith in Los Angeles, Izsadore had studied acting and African dance and was involved in the Black Panther movement.

She first met Fela in Los Angeles in 1969, after being introduced to him following one of his performances. Fela was looking for a singer, and Sandra eventually joined him.

More importantly, Sandra introduced Fela to ideas of Black consciousness, African-Americ@n politic@l thought and the struggle for Black liberation during his time in the United States.

Her influence would have a lasting impact on Fela’s political outlook and the direction of his music. Fela later returned to Nigeria, and about five months afterward sent for Sandra to join him and work with his band.

She spent about seven months in Nigeria, singing and working alongside Fela before returning to the Unit€d States.

Sandra Izsadore’s influence on Fela is often overlooked, but she played an important role in the transformation of the young Nigerian musician into the politic@lly conscious artist the world would later know as Fela Kuti.

📸 Sandra Akanke Izsadore, Togo, 1970s

Have you heard of Sandra Izsadore before?

Source-NPP