Discover the extraordinary influence of Sandra Izsadore, a Black Panther activist, on Fela Kuti’s political and musical awakening in 1969 Los Angeles. This article explores how her mentorship—through revolutionary literature, intimate partnership, and creative collaboration—sparked the birth of Afrobeat, a genre defined by Yoruba rhythms, funk, jazz, and a message of liberation. Learn about their personal and ideological connection, Izsadore’s role as Fela’s only featured vocalist on “Upside Down,” and her later return to Nigeria during Felabration at the New Afrika Shrine.
In the world of music and political awakening, few partnerships resonate as deeply as that of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Sandra Izsadore. Their fortuitous meeting in Los Angeles in 1969 wasn’t just a personal connection—it marked the ignition point of Afrobeat and the transformation of Fela into an activist musician. Through Izsadore's guidance, Fela embraced Black Power, Pan-Africanism, and radical self-liberation, shaping not only his sound but also his legacy. This blog explores the layers of that turning point, drawing on verified accounts to present a richly nuanced narrative.
1. A Chance Encounter in Los Angeles
In 1969, Fela Kuti, already a highlife musician with a UK music school background, arrived in the United States with his band, then known as Koola Lobitos. His 10-month American sojourn led him to Los Angeles, where he played residencies under the name Nigeria 70 .
It was at the NAACP Garden Party hosted at the Ambassador Hotel where fate intervened. There, Fela crossed paths with Sandra Izsadore (then known as Sandra Smith), a Black Panther-affiliated activist and singer from Los Angeles .
Their first exchange was indicative of both Fela’s charm and Sandra’s magnetism:
“Then he asked me if I had a car and I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Good.’ … Then, ‘You’re going with me.’ It just blew my mind ’cause I’d never had anybody be so aggressive with me. I didn’t say ‘no.’”
2. The Mentor and the Awakening
What followed was not just a romantic liaison—it was a profound mentorship. Izsadore opened Fela's mind to revolutionary literature and ideas. She gifted him The Autobiography of Malcolm X and introduced him to influential Black thinkers like Angela Davis, Huey Newton, Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, and Frantz Fanon .
Fela later reflected:
“Sandra gave me the education I wanted to know. She was the one who opened my eyes… For the first time I heard things I’d never heard before about Africa!”
Through their conversations, he began to draw parallels between American racial oppression and Nigerian post-colonial realities, forging a new politically charged identity.
3. From Love to Political Fire
While mentoring Fela, Sandra also became his lover. But unlike the many women in his life, she refused to be overshadowed by his charisma. Their bond was as much intellectual and spiritual as it was personal .
In Sandra's words:
“I thought surely if I could meet an Afrikan man he would teach me the Afrikan story… Well, I did not get the lesson from him because I unknowingly became the teacher.”
Their dynamic was transformative, inspiring him to move away from love-theme songs toward politically driven, socially conscious music.
4. The Birth of Afrobeat
Fela took the new philosophy he acquired from Sandra and channeled it into his music, blending Yoruba rhythms and highlife with American funk and jazz to create Afrobeat—a genre that defined his legacy .
His creative breakthrough in L.A. included writing "My Lady’s Frustration", which he considered the first truly African-centered tune he performed in Sandra’s parents’ home .
5. A Lasting Collaborator
Sandra’s influence extended beyond political counsel. In the mid-1970s, she became the only featured female vocalist on Fela’s records, contributing to the song “Upside Down” in 1976 . Her musical imprint further sealed her role in Afrobeat's evolution.
Through that collaboration and their shared convictions, Izsadore earned titles like “Mother of Afrobeat” and “Queen Mother of Afrobeat” .
6. Legacy and Recognition
Though their relationship waned, Sandra Izsadore remained a vital part of Fela’s story. She even returned to Nigeria, participating in Felabration in 2015, where she addressed audiences at the New Afrika Shrine—Fela’s enduring cultural venue .
Legacy remains with Fela—Afrobeat’s socio-political core—and with Sandra, whose mentorship catalyzed the transformation .
Conclusion
The narrative often celebrates Fela Kuti as Afrobeat’s architect—an apt honor. But to do justice to the genre’s depth and revolutionary force, one must also acknowledge Sandra Izsadore. She didn’t write its rhythms, but she gave Fela the ideological lungs to breathe powerful, liberating music into existence.
Fela may have been the genius that Afrobeat was named after, but Sandra was the mentor who helped him find his revolutionary voice.
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