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Santigold: ‘Blown Away’ By Fela Kuti

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All Things Considered continues its “Mom and Dad’s Record Collection” series with singer Santi White, who’s best known by her stage name, Santigold.

White says her father steered her artistic development by introducing her to the music of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti at a young age.

“My dad played so much music in the house, so much amazing music, and he was a huge fan of Fela,” she says. “He even took us to see him when he came to Philadelphia. It was amazing.”

White says she was struck by the women she saw and heard at that concert.

“I remember I was 7, and there were all these ladies onstage, and they didn’t have tops on, so I was just amazed,” she says. “I remember I came home and I was like, ‘I can do the African dance!’ and I, like, dropped to the floor. So, aesthetically, I was blown away already.”

Source: NPR

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