Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also professionally known as Fela Kuti, or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political maverick.[1][2] He has been called "superstar, singer, musician, Panafricanist, polygamist, mystic, legend."[3] During the height of his popularity, he was often hailed as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers.