Fela Kuti’s "Shuffering and Shmiling"

Building(s) in lyrics

In Shuffering and Shmiling, Fela Kuti carries the listener into buildings - specifically churches and mosques - and then out again.

You have to hear it to experience it. I say “hear” but that seems inadequate. Like all the best music, more like “be in it” to experience it.

The track kicks off with a 10 minute instrumental intro. Kuti used these intros to get the listeners’ minds focused, clear of any clutter that may be clouding them. And then…

“I want you all to please take your minds

Out of this musical contraption

And put your minds into any goddamn church

Any goddamn mosque

Any goddamn Celestical

Including Seraphoom and Cheruboom

Now, we are all there now

Our minds are in those places

Here we go…”

The song critiques the way that religions’ promise of heaven in the future can lull a population into acceptance of hardship in the present. (“Suffer, suffer for world / Enjoy for heaven / … Every day, for house / Every day, for road / Every day, for bus / Every day, for work).

Then it brings the listener back out of those places, creating the space for Kuti to share his message with his audience.

“My people, my people

My people, my people

We now have to carry our minds

Out of those goddamn places

Back into this musical contraption

Right opposite you

Now we are back here”

Listening on headphones is one thing, but the place to have heard the song performed live is The Shrine in Lagos. (Learn more about The Shrine here).

Wherever you listen though, what a brilliant example of the teleportative and transformative power of music.

*******

This year It’s Material is sharing examples of building(s) in lyrics. Share your suggestions!