Music brings people from all around the world together, and this video is the perfect example of that.
In this performance, plenty of talented musicians from different places come together to play an electric version of “Opposite People” by Fela Kuti. It’s not often that a cover song outdoes the original, but this one comes close.
Newen Afrobeat plays “Opposite People” with Seun Kuti and Malian musician Cheick Tidiane Seck.
“Opposite People” is a song that was released in 1977 by Fela Kuti. Almost 40 years later, Newen Afrobeat teamed up with Fela’s son Suen to do a magical rendition of the beautiful song.
After meeting Suen and the Futi family during the Felabration festival in Lagos, Nigeria, they teamed up to play this song!
A single drummer starts off the spectacular show before dozens of people join in with their instruments.
The sheer number of sounds coming out of this collaboration is shocking. The instruments include trumpets, congos, electric guitars and more—this group of artists is doing it all!
You can see Suen Futi dancing to the music while Newen Afrobeat and the Egypt 80 band play a complex flurry of extraordinary sounds that are out of this world.
The energy from this performance is so strong that it’s hard to believe they fit so many people in that small studio.
There are over 20 musicians packed into the tiny recording studio, and you can see the sweat pouring off of their heads as they dance around and play their instruments.
Drummer Roberto Gevert really goes off during this performance!
The cameraman records him going full-speed while banging a great melody out of his drums. About 10 minutes into the almost 14-minute long video, Suen Futi begins singing with the whole band still playing “Opposite People.”
By the time they’re 10 minutes into the video, the musicians start taking breaks while others play and Suen jumps on the mic to sing.
The three girls beside Suen back him up with some gorgeous vocals. In all, he does his father proud by carrying on his song to the next generation!
Everyone is having such a wonderful time performing this together!
There’s a massive smile on Cheick Tidiane Seck’s face while he sits at his keyboard and plays along with the group.
After Suen Futi is finished singing, all the musicians make one final push to end the jam session.
As the collaboration starts to come to an end, everyone vigorously plays sounds from their instrument in one final group harmony. Playing in that small studio must have been so hot, but all that mattered to these music-lovers was the moment.
People from all over were mesmerized by the giant collage of sounds.
The collaborative cover went viral, reaching millions of people worldwide. This video has been viewed over 7.7 million times, with 99,000 liking it and thousands leaving comments.
Seeing so many souls come together for one singular purpose is truly incredible—they all deserve to be seen for this one!
Fela Kuti would be so proud of this.
To see his music carried on by his youngest son and the younger generation must’ve been a great dream/ This is what music is all about—working in unison to connect through the arts.
To see this jaw-dropping cover of “Opposite People,” watch the video below!
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