Noah Opeyemi Balogun
Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
Noah Opeyemi Balogun, a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti received his B.A and M.A in Philosophy from the University of Ibadan, MSc. in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria, and PhD in African Philosophy from the University of South Africa. His research interest is in the areas of nonviolence, human rights and development.
Talk Information:
The Philosophy of Nonviolent Resistance in Fela’s Afrobeat
August 1, 2025 | 9:00 AM
This study explores the philosophical underpinnings of nonviolent resistance in Fela Anikulapo Kuti's Afrobeat music. Through a critical analysis of Fela's lyrics, music, and activism, this study reveals how Afrobeat served as a powerful medium for articulating resistance against oppression, corruption, and social injustice in Nigeria. Drawing on the works of some prominent philosophers of nonviolent resistance, this study argues that Fela's music embodied a distinctive philosophy of nonviolent resistance that emphasised the importance of grassroots mobilisation, cultural revitalisation, and Pan-African solidarity. By examining the intersections between music, politics, and philosophy, this study sheds new light on the enduring relevance of Fela's legacy and the potential of Afrobeat as a vehicle for social change.
Keywords: Fela Kuti, Afrobeat, nonviolent resistance, philosophy, social justice, Pan-Africanism.