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One Song

Introducing: Fela Kuti: Fear No Man

One Song

Hartbeat

Music, Comedy, Music Commentary, Music Interviews

4.81.4K Ratings

🗓️ 1 January 2026

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

One Song is sharing an episode of the new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man. When the world is on fire, what can music actually do? Host Jad Abumrad recounts the true tale of one of the great political awakenings in music. Fela Kuti was a classically trained Nigerian musician who traveled to America, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a battering ram against the state. Doing so, he created a new musical language of resistance called Afrobeat. But when the mix of art and activism got too hot, the state pulled out its guns and literally opened fire. In this episode, we hear how Fela’s music had the power to move hearts, change minds, and heal the deepest wounds. Listen to more episodes of Fela Kuti: Fear No Man on Audible or at https://link.mgln.ai/onesong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, one song listeners, we want to share a special episode with you this week. We obviously think about music all the time.

0:05.6

This story coming up is about how music can change the world. But I mean like really change the world.

0:11.9

It's all about how when the world is on fire, what can music actually do?

0:15.6

The story comes from a show called Fela Kuti, Fear No Man. Jad Abuumrad recounts the true tale of one of the great

0:22.4

political awakenings in music. This is Jad's first project post-Radio Lab. He conducted interviews

0:27.6

with Falakutti's family, historians, luminaries like Iowa Debris, David Byrne, Brian Eno, Santi

0:32.9

Gold, and Barack Obama. The show is a mix that only Jod could create, Oral history, musicology, deep dive journalism, and cutting edge sound design. So we're going to hit play on this episode now, and if you want to hear more, check out Falakuti, Fear No Man, on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. Listen up. Huh? That means you. Yes, you. We know you're pointing at yourself. When it comes to Paddy Power Games, we've got a place made for all sorts.

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1:09.0

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1:11.2

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1:12.8

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1:17.4

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1:19.1

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1:20.1

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1:36.3

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1:39.3

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1:42.3

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1:49.0

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1:52.5

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1:54.5

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1:57.0

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1:58.5

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...

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