Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also professionally known as Fela Kuti and simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political maverick.He has been called "superstar, singer, musician, Panafricanist, polygamist, mystic, legend."During the height of his popularity, he was often hailed as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers.