Fela Kuti - International Thief Thief (I.T.T.)

Fela Kuti - International Thief Thief (I.T.T.) (1979) Fela Kuti
From the LP I.T.T. (CD release 1997)
fela.net/discography/
This video is part of a series of songs being posted on Fela's official KZbin channel ( / fela ) each featuring, alongside the music, an informative commentary by Afrobeat Historian, Chris May.
The entire catalogue, released on Kntting Factory Records, is available on the Fela website (fela.net/), along with documentaries and recorded concerts, CDs and vinyl, tee shirts, posters and many other items.

[@popsonjaiyesimi7670]

Fela songs should be studied as an African Renaissance. It will change the psychology of the future generations.

[@iktheboy7594]

🙄🙄🙄... 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ 😂

[@illitrait]

...listen very carefully - in this tune, Fela clearly identifies and addresses "globalisation" as a problem for countries throughout Africa. He sets out the MO used by "multinationals" when they set up in developing nations (with the collusion of corrupt officials) - all done with the clever use of metaphors. Note that this tune was released way back in the '70s, long before those terms crept into contemporary usage as bywords for corporate greed and inhumanity. Epic sometin.

[@kobi932]

BabaStiletto well said sir

[@naikiadexa1123]

BabaStiletto Fela was a genius. Intellectually way ahead of his time.

[@samueleversley3956]

Fela was from an intelligent family, his father was a school teacher and mother was political activist,,' and he was a first year medical student.

[@danmeyer114]

Thank you. I agree with your observation about this song.

[@spirithawk2418]

And before it was called Globalization it was called MERCANTILISM......Thomas Hobbes .... Triangular Trade .......Sugar ... Slaves..... Tobacco....same shit different terminology 2019...........

[@adeniran77]

22 years since the Legend departed..... Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Gone but never forgotten

[@Jamjulius]

adebayo adeniran God bless his spirit

[@samola282]

Legendary. The only Philosopher Nigeria if not Africa produced

[@MBhat001]

@@samola282 you people don't deserve such an icon. Killed him for different views on politics and subtle criticism.

[@samola282]

@@MBhat001 Not my people. Nigeria is divided into two. The Southern part are full of progressive Nigerians (Yoruba and Igbo) while the Northern part are full of Fulani jihadist. The Fulani jihadist that were in position of power in our Govt killed Fela . And have continued to terrorize the south. That's our predicament in the failed British experiment called Nigeria. Fela spent most of his life using his music to counter that evil Govt

[@MBhat001]

@@samola282 I am sorry didnot know the caste and tribe equation of Nigeria. Any way you lost a great musician who used to be adored in India too.

[@veelawrence4285]

Yes it was same American company ITT he was referring. They were awarded a multi billion dollar telecommunications contract in Nigeria in the early 1970s along with their Nigerian agent MKO Abiola. They did such a substandard and shoddy work that inspires the music by Fela calling them international Thief Thief

[@ondolite3789]

Not widely known. Thank you.

[@salawuaristide2378]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@johnk4437]

I went to see Fela at UCB Zellerbach theater in the 80's ... Nigeria wouldn't allow him to travel accusing him of alleged currency violations.. ($ for the band traveling !) Femina Kuti played in his absence. I owned this recording as young man. Fela was a true genius! ❤💯👌

[@moyosore.b8724]

It’s a misfortune being a Nigerian, but then again I can’t deny where I come from. Listening to this on this day the Independence Day of Nigeria makes me sad again. I hope someday, soon the Nigerian people would wake up and fight for the right thing. Sad Independence Day Nigeria. :(

[@oluchiosakwe]

This song hits different. Fela was a prophet in the sense that all what he sang about is still happening decades after he said so. May his soul rest in perfect peace

[@samola282]

Legendary. The only Philosopher Nigeria if not Africa produced.. Under-represented because he's black. The man was a true African Renaissance!

[@remiem-iw7uk]

Incorrect. Greeks and Romans came to Africa to learn.

[@jasonharris7770]

You need to read Ayi Kwei Armah....

[@tyronedaniels3116]

This comment is really ignorant

[@goodbeans]

Unbelievably stupid and racist comment

[@johnmpandaguta3289]

​@@tyronedaniels3116 extremely

[@shirowet4596]

Segera bet means toilet in my language Amharic. Love this song. Powerful and true. Still valid today. We’re still fighting the ITT’s in 2021. Aluta Continua!!!

[@Africa1000]

Great to see that you are catching the lyrics!

[@--pussypatroll--]

The layers of musical textures. You can listen to this over and over again, and it'll always be different.

[@dennismaorwe]

this is how i feel about every Fela song.

[@HapArchery0183]

Music is the Weapon!!! Fela Kuti, Legend of Nigeria.

[@olatunjiunique9061]

Anytime I listen fela kuti music it make me feel like crying. The legend has gone but his legacies remained standstill💯✔ Rest in peace the legend😭

[@shawnsawyer2784]

This song is amazing, the bass , subtle guitar, the brass section, of course truly a beloved message!!!! I am a new fan!!

[@vdjmusicaliuniversalmusic6110]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/horTeJWVm6ypo7s

[@fudgenuggets405]

Coffin for Head of State will always be my favorite Fela song.

[@brendaricci4709]

LOVE YOU FELA KUTI YOU ARE THE BEST EVERY RIP ..FROM THE DAUGHTER OF THE LEGENDARY BLUES BRENDA TAYLOR....YOU WERE THE TRUE MESSENGER...

[@adeosinowo1817]

Indeed one of the best artist I have ever seen in performance both at the second shrine in Lagos and in Chicago in the early 1990's.

[@davidcole2530]

I saw him too at broadway Chicago that time

[@vickjr98]

Fela Kuti. The greatest African to have ever lived

[@fudgenuggets405]

He was awesome for sure, but there was a dude named Nelson Mandela that was kind of cool too.

[@aarondixon7]

this was the very first Fela purchase me..A cassette with sorrow tears and blood and colonial mentality on the other side!!! BROADWAY SEATTLE WA 1992..BLESSED

[@sojiadamo5212]

aaron dixon Gwarn Breda, Forward Aaron Dixon!

[@killmewithsmiles]

When I am feeling rebellious, his songs are my go to, when I want to relax, the music is so soothing to my soul. No wonder he described it as the “underground spiritual game”.

[@dwaynebest5655]

You are right... Please also check out Beast of No Nation by Fela...

[@acquinadeyinka9284]

He was not that selfish musiciens he made all his group express their qualites and finally giving the quality music to thé public thanks again BABA

[@meptune]

This has recently become one of my records of all time. Seriously. This song is so relevent today it's amazing. But more: Fela Kuti was amazing and Tony Allen is wonderful.

[@kolawolebabatunde8712]

2020 still banging on my head guys hit me guys, I just dey miss Nigeria

[@tanksmakau7672]

me too. no place like home bro

[@HealMobile]

on this first day of 2019, nothing could usher it in better than this, Lady, and as much Fela as I can play today!

[@tigerlilylio]

I know this song when I 20 young and now I have 53 and I never forget him because he had true and very good music

[@yaminhaniyah2979]

" International Thief Thief " and they're still doing this to this very day. July 2019.

[@farmercologistc7039]

Same shit different day! Friday June 17th 2022. Things are as bad as ever. ITT!

[@tundeezekiel134]

The composition, arrangement of this great song is an out of this world piece.... Fela is very much talented

[@usmc2020627]

Saw Fela LIVE at The Fillmore/San Francisco many years ago . It was quite the impressive performance .

[@shirowet4596]

You’re damn lucky. I now live the Bay Area. Wrong place wrong time I guess.

[@TimiO47]

Well he died back in 1997 so I I’d say so

[@MBhat001]

What a musician !!!!!. Fantastic trumpets with bass guitar accompaniment.

[@mr.jayalizorjr.987]

Kedu (Hello), to all my Igbo brothers and Sisters from Nigeria, listening to Fela.

[@shirowet4596]

That’s where the problem is. All Nigerians are your brothers and sisters.

[@TimiO47]

Wtf does that mean smh

[@pelumi4942]

And Fela is not even if igbo

[@empressnicola3175]

The Message is in the Music ...#TheFightWillNeverStop...✊🏾🖤🇹🇹❤️🌍💚🇳🇬💙🇭🇹✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾No Surrender!!!!

[@symonwanjohi3294]

This is 2019 and Fela still advising vagabonds in power.

[@christopherayettey4390]

I thiught he was talking About abiola

[@nkhensanirikhotso]

Our Fela, My Fela. Thank you for the music Fela!!

[@uncensored2282]

fela kuti, a Nigerian, created afrobeat music and then took it to Ghana and tried to convince musicians there to abandon 'western music' and play afrobeat - which fela considered true African music. but they laughed at him. today afrobeat rules the world, and ghanaians are claiming to be the 'creators' of afrobeat. god punish them

[@Yourismouter]

The Mozart of rock n roll, fusion and African music :) I fucking love this man, Pan-Africanism may it happen under revolutionary socialism and Feta would be the best president we never had :)

[@paulrouhan7288]

Minister of Culture and Enlightenment - we would have to educate him on sexual politics.

[@fudgenuggets405]

You could go to this dude's concert and hear five songs in about 3 hours. That was cool.

[@akadike6190]

The bases guitar guy was a monster on a rampage

[@azizadelrosario4364]

A Masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love you Fela!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he say it with just one song !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks you Fela!

[@Omotosho5058]

Fella the great man, we need people like you know

[@jeanpierrevanzandberghe2601]

Pfffff!!quel constructionmusicale!!!c est le plus grand, vraiment!!depuis tant d annee!!de grands grands musiciens avec lui!!on parle de james brown,de manu dibango, mais fela??c est l excellence en plus des textes

[@brunogiordano4977]

Et dire que la plupart des gens ne le connaisent meme pas,a part les anglosaxons,les français eux ,plutôt a la traine.

[@TheGurner1]

Such a groove, and real message!

[@adeaga3265]

Best horns section ever masterpiece

[@fudgenuggets405]

Only other one close was James Brown's. Those dudes got after it.

[@balighsohbani2350]

Europa got Mozart... We got Fela !

[@secretswordsz]

Mozart was a black man and Beethoven was too

[@sidneyodu4982]

@@Argacyan unkown to you, I bought FELA CD's from expatriates in Nigeria returning to France, and they didn't buy them in country, he is quite well known in France

[@ScorieDivine]

@@sidneyodu4982 Un peu, mon neveu. Il est reconnu comme un musicien majeur depuis quoi ? 40 ans ?

[@naledidubby]

Why mention an European when you want to compare

[@justicetruth5456]

Both Afrikans, along with Beethoven....

[@derickopoku446]

Master class of music instrumentals with current African issues Obasajo nd abiola itt

[@basilnwanesindu6324]

The best of Nigeria and Africa

[@hugo888888888]

I remeber ITT in Santiago, Chili, at 11 of September, 1973.

[@dylandalon6573]

"Well Well " Fela another reason I listen to the music of the dead

[@dndn1221]

Underrated bassline in this one.

[@illitrait]

...ehehn.

[@SK-le1gm]

I know. I will work on learning it today. It is such a sweet bassline it makes you cry.

[@xuvetyn6645]

so relentless

[@viqwinner]

@@xuvetyn6645 That’s the word, man! The bass anchors the mind to the heartof the composition from start to finish; not a moment to veer off as you listen.

[@ondolite3789]

Not by me. I played it over and over, as a 14 year old, on my little guitar.

[@marioblack2735]

i love this song....RIP baba. you still lives in our heart (blackism)

[@juanv1503]

friend friend, stat, stat they steal money - REAL MUSIC, FELA is the best musician that ever lived in my opinion.

[@petercorbett3794]

This is a daring challenge. Love it.

[@japarepublic8201]

Obj has always been a thief, and now he's endorsing Atiku, I'm sorry for Nigerians

[@ademolasawyer31]

😂😂😂 Odeh! Where in the track did he mention OBJ?

[@chaimok978]

Ll

[@illitrait]

...go and listen again, @@ademolasawyer31 - and this time listen properly: 🎵"...start start to steal money, Like Obasanjo and Abiola...!"🎵 Feel free to apologise to Star City in your own time. Una don come, abi?🙄

[@thelife4987]

How far now as atiku no enter?

[@drdanudo]

AN AFRICAN AND WORLD RENOWNED ICON

[@SK-le1gm]

Is this the only mention of *inflation* in recorded music??? Let alone the corrupt dynamics behind it 🏦 Brilliant man.

[@ondolite3789]

👏

[@VirtuousOyinda]

Fela songs are magically spiritual

[@pablomogosi8712]

You are also magic

[@retselisitsoebautloane8682]

Classic...i love it!!!

[@indie7347]

I love Fela. hate the fact it was removed from spotify :( now i cant enjoy it all day long

[@williamturner3228]

indie7347 try soundcloud

[@HealMobile]

so that's the reason i couldn't get Spotify. woulda been a waste!

[@azabi4036]

Am sure may Nigerians don't know that this song is for MKO Abiola and the company he used to steal from Nigeria government. Great fela may you rest well ❤❤

[@sydneychukwukelu]

MKO "International Thief Thief" Abiola

[@peacetheworld...........7105]

I.T.T! Fella masterpiece

[@tristachang4sheriffazgovpr264]

Nothin' better than Fela. LONG LIVE THE BLACK PRESIDENT !

[@godsendakinnibosun5431]

Hes a legendary revolutionist its crazy how the cats he mentioned became the presidents of the country . His music is timeless

[@franklynagbebaku2971]

There was a man......a true voice of the voiceless, and then he died (murdered)!!!!!!!!

[@DonCristo297]

Big hug Kuti From Morocco we will fight Forever

[@emmanuelkofiasante4]

The best of all fela all the way ♥️ 🙌

[@tammyistafa155]

We are rising. Please save me Lord #EndSars

[@peterbormuth420]

Fela said: "once we Afrikans had our own religions. We don't need no goddamn church."

[@oladipo8951]

We don tire to carry anymore of them sh#t - that's where I lose it. It is spiritual.

[@uncensored2282]

the build up to 'obasanjo and abiola' is genius

[@frankorepsw]

I like this Fela tune!!!🎵

[@DouglasF68]

Music is the Weapon!!!!!!!

[@garyaugustus1009]

I first heard this in late 1986, and immediately noticed the James Brown in it with the rhythm guitar and horn choruses. Roy Ayers was in his band, and you can also hear Fela's musical influence in some of his music..

[@MartinMagumajestic]

This prodigal and professional thieves continue to permeate In society around the globe,sadly.

[@clementnuesiri9752]

+Martin Magu And dastardly more sophisticated

[@zozoafrobeat]

word

[@kartelmoneyvevo3395]

leon ligan world

[@ogboye777]

It's bcuz we permit dem

[@leahtyus3976]

This music is touching my soul 2/22/2021

[@frankorepsw]

I remember listening to this when I was young.....

[@junemines6853]

I also played it for my kids when they were young (7 or so). I'm happy to say that they now appreciate him even more now.

[@clairetbruno918]

and now...you're young away

[@Jamjulius]

Thanks Fela

[@williamkabemba1517]

i love this guy

[@houlsteincross1790]

I'm here from the lekki massacre. 20/10/2020 We move and don tire to dey carry shit man.✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿

[@ericdegraftjohnson4520]

Can any fun tell me the year kalakuta shrine was raided by the military.

[@brotheramartey777]

Fela was the Bob Marley of Africa, so authentic!!

[@koyedavid2194]

He was Fela period

[@justiceejim5341]

Marley was Marley while Fela is Fela

[@shaspearman8647]

I agree with you Justice

[@davyroger3773]

I noticed people hate when Marley is brought up in Fela's music. Even to the point of denigrating Bobs music to uplift Fela, which is a shame, since both are legends

[@Jasitus]

@@davyroger3773 But truth be told, Bob's spirit don't match up with Fela. Its like X and Dr King. We all know, the stripes of freedom resides more with Malcolm. But this is not an insult on Bob or Dr King.

[@mikaelwamankwemrsomethingn3190]

The young soldier of the African soil

[@ruthdixon7807]

the target here is the multinationals profiting from africa, and in particular the conglomerate ITT.

[@ricardonavarro4902]

the best of thre best!!!!! VIVA FELA!!

[@dr.m-beenzunamwiinganakazw9106]

well articulated...Motherland wake up.... Them pipo stole from us....

[@otumfuo3]

Aaaabah!!! This man, no size!!!

[@moshetitus9320]

Good music The Great Fela Kuti

[@paulfasanya1561]

Remembering back in the days of Kalakuta Republic shrine Moshalashi Empire ogostus o iya aje RIP

[@paulfasanya1561]

Omo iya aje

[@shaspearman8647]

I will give anything to experience that. Anything.

[@petercorbett3794]

A masterpiece.

[@jade1966]

Watch out for ads in the middle of this song. Video is monetized.

[@djpizdiette]

Masterpiece !!

[@samueladeshina-amosun9320]

An African Icon.

[@MrSimms-oh3qf]

🔥🔥🔥YASSSSS 🔥🔥🔥2023🎷🎷🎷FELA🎷🎷🎷💨💨💨

[@refilwesedibe480]

Fela!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤

[@olajuwonkosoko9117]

We don tire to dey carry shit mehn 😞

[@prestamosservicio1537]

I love so

[@PPlex66]

FELA !!! ❤💛💚🖤✊😐🎷🎤🪘

[@MegaSheick]

the master

[@andrewomo5429]

Am listening 🎧

[@bonneymoy5194]

deep inspiration

[@user-um5pl4xv5c]

Ton feat avec Manu aurait été légendaire 🎉 ...

[@earthearth5701]

God son fela.

[@goutgueule9951]

Great!

[@azizadelrosario4364]

Internatial thief for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Fela!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@felakuti]

No problem Aziza and thank you for the love towards Fela. Hopefully you will continue the Fela Express on this channel by subscribing here ► bit.ly/1XsVy99 Take care and everybody say "Yeah Yeah" (y)

[@kartelmoneyvevo3395]

Aziza Del Rosario yess kooo

[@arcane231]

Holy Shit the lick at 6;53 and before