For those who don’t know, this song was written about the Nigerian government and ultimately resulted in the Nigerian government murdering Fela Kuti’s mother. Blood was shed for this beautiful music to be played.

*Zombie* is a song by Nigerian Afrobeat creator, Fela Kuti. The song was released in 1976 when Nigeria was under idiotic military Government. In the song, Fela mocked soldiers as mindless robots who follow illegal and immoral orders thoughtlessly. In response, soldiers stormed his resident, injured defenseless residents, threw his mom out of a second floor window, and burned the place down. Fela lamented the murder of his mom in a song, titled, *Unknown Soldier.* Fela Kuti remains a folk hero to Nigerians. He is the inspiration of Modern Frobeatz artists.

drummer is insanely good

After watching Opposite People more times than I'd like to admit, you've gone and brought the 🔥 again! Superb!! 👏

This drummer is the secret weapon!

I an really impressed by this drummer!! .....he must have perfect time, as Ginger Baker used to say. I do not think I would have learned about Newen Afrobeat, had I not been a lifelong fan of Ginger Baker, and even when he left England for Nigeria and set up his 16 track recording studio in the 1970's in , and his alliance with Fela Kuti began, I then came to know of what a giant Fela Kuti was for Nigerian music, and also African music in general. In looking for Fela Kuti on the internet, I was so happy to have met with the sound and the powerful rhythm of Newen .Afrobeat. I am very sorry that their popularity is not so much in the United States. What are Newen Afrobeat doing now? I see they are alive and well and all the members are solid and unified year after year, but there are no recordings of their music being played on American radio, they are almost unknown in even New York. Even Amazon only has ONE album that is a mix of other bands, and Newen Afrobeat is reduced to only selling MP3 format! Maybe they prefer this path. Maybe it's less hassel with record companies who rip artists off, and possibly being forced into dealing with the Mafia, which is deeply involved in the music industry. They are obviously happy making music in their way, and they may just be so de-centralized and democratic that there is no real "BOSS" bean counter, and dealing as a musical entity with a record company is just too much like misery to interfere with the music and spirit of the people who make it work. This problem of also being a BUSINESS arose for the Beatles after Brian Epstein died, and although it did not wreck their ability to create music, suddenly the real world came crashing in, and they had to balance this thing called a check book!! And they had to make serious decisions.....business decisions....and who was going to get how much money?!?! All the uncomfortable decisions that went along with the beautiful music had been taken care of by Mr. Epstein. When he was no longer there, their world of beautiful thoughts and inspired feelings had to become business meetings and disagreements on directions to go with The Beatles Ltd., and how to pay less than 90% taxes!! I am sad to say, I have been a fan of theirs for maybe 2 years now,but I still have not known who they are. Their names are not mentioned anywhere in English publications, I never hear of their music being played anywhere despite how enjoyable it make us feel. The few websites that are supposed to be dedicated to Newen Afrobeat I have sent notes to, asking for information for when they tour America and where a person can get CD's of their music, but there is no responding person on the other end!! I wish these fine musicians and artists to have a happy and long career making their happy and rhythmic sound together. I just wish it were possible to get to know them a little better as people in a great band and hear them play live!! Maybe one of the band will read this and answer me?

It took me 3 watches to realise this is even the same studio as Opposite People with new lighting. Magic space and magic music!

J ai vu Féla au Shrine à Lagos en1980, puis Seun dans le sud de la france au côté de Femi....avec son saxophone qui touchait presqu'à terre ! Mais ce que fait Newen Afrobeat de cet héritage musical est une merveille, un miracle !! Je me rendrai n' importe où en Europe pour les voir , et même à defaut au chili !!!! Merci mille fois, gardez cette joie de jouer, et cet état d esprit magnifique !!!

Fran Ri - her voice is amazing!

Infected by Fela more than 35 yrs ago, an Afro-Beat pandemic is what the world needs! Seeing young people get it lets me fade away a happy old person.

Totally love the female lead singer's voice! Great Band!

Fran Ri's voice is incredible ! And the whole band is mind blowing !

Amazing! As a Nigerian, I am speechless!

I want more Seun Kuti... You for sure have made Papa Fela Kuti damn proud... You've done this one justice oo

This is an excellent cover. Fela would be proud of Newen Afrobeat and what you stand for.

I was so excited when i got this notification, and DAMN it didn't disappoint!! Viva la Newen Afrobeat!

The singers sound great and are very BEAUTIFUL !!!!

Roberto Gevert getting better and better!

I have been a fan for several years. This session it's unbelievable! Perfect sound perfect energy! Glad to see you all together again.

Wow! What a follow up to Opposite People. So amazing to see Newen and Seun play together again. Instant Goosebumps!

Damn ... my new favorite Newn Afrobeat song ... smokin hot ...... insane energy ... cosmic vibes ...

Hi guys, It brings back memories of my teenage years when people around the world were fighting for justice and equal rights... Some progress was made but the financial counter revolution as brought back the worse... Thanks for this energetic cover... Let's tell the zombies to stop and go away for good! Beautiful voices, beautiful talented people. Abraços fortes de Portugal.

Excited, my 3 y/o and I have listened to Opposite People since he was 1 y/o. We love it, we both just get lost listening and watching such talented musicians. We are both waiting for the premiere Emocionado!!!!, mi hijo de 3 años y yo hemos estado escuchando Opposite People desde que el tenia un año, y nos encanta, ambos nos quedamos embelecidos observando a estos musicos tan increibles. Los dos estamos esperando la premier 💓

Love everything Newen does. In particular love the kit-drummer and Fran Ri's voice.

сумасшедшая музыка и такая же атмосфера. Вы большие молодцы. смотрю вас постоянно. с приветом из Москвы!!!

this is a rare moment in time when it all comes together

Hi from Nigeria

I want more of these studio recordings!

Desde que descubrí a Newen Afrobeat me hice un aficionado, y son una compañía permanente en la musica de mi taxi, le gente me pregunta quiénes son y apunta el nombre de la banda!! Una exelente performance, la verdad que tienen un nivel impresionante, felicidades, saludos desde Barcelona

Nigeria's real Prince. Royalty Fela Kuty, timeless talent

If I didn't see this on video, I'd swear it was a remastered original. BRILLIANT!

It's so amazing to me that this band, with its humble origin, is on its way to becoming a worldwide phenomenon! Much love to Fran, Tito and the rest of the band for their energy, dedication, and above all else, LOVE!

This must be so good after watching "Opposite people". Love Kuti's and Newen Afrobeat. Waiting eagerly for the first display. After listening, what a beatiful interpretation. Grandma Kuti would be very proud.

Yes Sir! ... Now we're talking! .... I love it when they have these get togethers in the closed room. ... Man, they all sound GREAT!!!

Love this band. Love the Latin influence that makes its way in occasionally. Doing honour to Fela's memory.

AH! Seun Kuti! ❤️ Our Egungun are dancing!!! I just discovered this channel…mi Orishas had something to do with this I suspect. My Godson’s parents were initiated into IFA by Fela Kuti. Ancestors are happy!!! Long live Fela’s work. Long live Candomble y Umbanda. 💫✨💙✨💫 USA is listening.

First sax solo killin it.

Fantastico !!!!!!!! After the legendary "Opposite People " you 're giving us a new masterpiece !!!We salute you and thank you ALL !!Love from Greece !!!

Don’t mess with the zombie It has no ideology 😂! Anyways you people groove like nobody else: amazing 😃👍. In my book you are all superstars !

I don't subscribe to channels but this one i had to, after watching Opposite People. What a bunch of beautiful people.

I'm sitting here in tears thinking about how little things have changed since I first heard this 30 years ago. Underutilized revolutionary masterpiece!

This was incredible. U guys really bring out the essence of this song and Seun was tremendous as well. I think I'm in love w/ the middle girl. 😍

...Oi a Fela Anikulapo y los Africa 70, hace más de 20 años, y desde ahí que sigo a Fela, y es insólito que yo siendo de Chile, de la región del Biobio, yo no supiera de Newen Afrobeat. Ahora son míos, para oír alguna fusible nueva fusión de los 2 continentes que en su cruce accidental han dado a luz dos estilos de los importantes del mundo, el jazz y la música caribeña. Salud por esto.

Amazing High frequencies !!

Awesome. You guys are most like Fela 💯❤️ was fortunate to see Fela at the African Corner in Portland Oregon. It was the most awesome show I have ever seen. I have a whole pack of photos from that show a Nigerian friend gave me. What beautiful musical arrangement 👍❤️

You guys are amazing, I have discovered afrobeat because of you. Fela Forever!

Best sounding band on the planet

WOW. I just noticed that it has been EXACTLY FIVE YEARS since the legendary Opposite People video has been released on KZfaq. Happy anniversary Newen! ;-)

Oh wow! How did I miss this? They're back at it with Seun again! And playing zombie! Damn Awesome! One of my favorites. Good going guys. I'm still wishing for your cover of "Sorrow Tears and Blood". Anyways, I'm so glad to see the gang back in a video. Cheers from Brazil. Abraços do Brasil. o/

Omg how soooooo powerfuuuuuuuuuull 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 goosebumps are ↗️↗️↗️↗️📈📈📈💣🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

So amazing! I love this!!! Please come to the East Coast in the States, especially Philadelphia, like at World Café Live! 🥰

Que bueno que esta vez les dejaron prender el aire acondicionado. Estupendo como siempre, viva Newen!

this music. we naija salute you all

5 star performance, the band absolutely nailed it!

Massive performance by a great band Newen Afrobeat!!!

Absolutely outstanding. The only thing that could make it better is if it was twice as long.

Beautiful. Never get tired of listening this real music without borders.

Love that woman’s voice !

Pedazo de cover. Qué calidad. Una verdadera pieza musical, sin desajustes. Un solo envión de armonías, ritmos y notas. Fela, qué homenaje...

This is so amazing.... Much respect to you guys

The alto saxophonist wears the Nigeria shirt from the last World Cup. Respect.

Fela's. music is characterized to be so complex that no group has been able to reproduce it, no matter how much they try. This group did a masterly job of zombie , even Fela will approve.

Wikkiid session jammin' right there 🎉

Obra maestra👌🏻 Con respeto a su grande compositor!! Saludos desde 🇬🇷 ✊🏻

great version of Fela's "Zombie"-- love the trading of lead vocals between Seun & Fran Ri---this number & also "Sorrow Tears & Blood" bring back the struggles of people worldwide but esp prevalent in Chile & Haiti now---a timely song

Fran ri supremacy!!

It looks like Fran Ri's amazing vocal delivery is so much connected to her posture and body language. Powerful and inspiring.

Only a few years after. The Band is altogether again. A new project should be watched hundred times. Till we become zombies. God bless you, Fela Kuti. Greetings from Hungary.

When music was philosophical as it should be

CHEIKH ANTA DIOP on the t-shirt of seun kuti is wonderfull and the music too . CONGRATULATIONS

That just made my day. Thanks.

Amo!!!!!! A Newen y a Seun y a Fela! Saludos desde Colombia. ♥

Seun, it seems you took them to Lagos and had them eat plenty fufu and jolof and visit Kalakuta because they play your late father's music with such soul. Nicely done, band!

Saludo hermanos!!! Mucha energia! Necesito bailar con vos! Venham a Brasil! Abrazos fuerza 😊✊🏾

So good ! While listen to this you can't sit.

Mientras estudiaba para una evaluación una gran amigo me envió el link de esta canción y deje de lado mis estudios para disfrutar de estos grandes músicos de calidad, amados son esos saxofones 🎷 🎷 🎷 😍😍muchas gracias por su talento!!!. Saludos y mucho éxito desde Chile!

Love love love…….Don’t be a Zombie stand up and fight for whats right!

Horns are great, ladies are great, rhythm section great. But props to lead and rhythm guitar who kick the tune off and carry it on in such fabulous, memorable style!

Damn!!! Carlos Santana should be jamming with you guys!!!!!

Con Newen quedas ZOMBIE!!! ESPECTACULAR!!!

I second jpzarka's comment below: 'After watching Opposite People more times than I'd like to admit . . . ' 🙂 Newen Afrobeat with Seun Kuti is life and joy!

Love from France👍

Listening to this makes be proud to be Nigerian. May God bless Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Africa’s GOAT of music .

epic take. greetings from Afrobeat Malta!

I've been waiting for something like this since the Opposite people! Wow, Fran can go deep :D I hope there's "Water no get enemy" in the pipeline.

Por favor juntensé y hagan una gira juntos. así son la mejor banda del mundo 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Saludos desde Argentina

soy percusionista y su musica me transporta, me hace entrar en trance, me encanta escuchar toda esa fusion de ritmos , excelente performance ... saludos desde México.

Already waiting for the new one. The world awaits for the new

Superb rendering.

Newen is the best, love from Turkey 🌞

i fuckin love you guys you know how many times i watched the opposite people one , too many

LOVE YOU GUYS!

From Opposite People to now this! Holy cow! there's magic in this room.

No idea why KZfaq recommended this to me but I'm grateful for it. Groovy,funky.

Excellent you guys.....really excellent !!!

These guys are on fire, this really define music as universal language, Anybody can do it, Kudo guys.

Gracias, siempre, Newen Afrobeat!!! Abrazos desde Argentina!!!

Fantastic, thank you all Newen Afrobeat and Seun! Crazy powerful vocals from Fran.

It looks like the temperature in the studio has dropped a lot since the "Opposite People" video 🔥🔥🔥🔥 :-) ;-)

Parabéms great cover that brought back memories I was fortunate enough to see Fela in the shrine in Lagos in the mid 70's. I honor your obvious love for his music.