Music is the Weapon - Fela Kuti (1982)

Music Is the Weapon may be short, but it's essential viewing for Fela fans. Filmed in 1982, the 53-minute documentary captures the late Nigerian musician/activist at his peak. For the uninitiated, it's hard to explain--in mere words--how one man could so successfully mate the sexuality of James Brown with the righteous politics of Bob Marley and sinuous sounds of Miles Davis. Fela drew as much inspiration for his "Afro-beat" from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X as funk, reggae, and jazz. Music Is the Weapon features interviews with Fela and a few of his many wives, along with performances of "ITT," "Army Arrangement," and other anthems. A controversial figure throughout his life, Fela is described as both "superstar" and "man of the people." This short, but potent document ably explores that dichotomy. --Kathleen C. Fennessy