The album was an indictment of the corruption and repression in post-colonial Africa, addressing a variety of targets, each of them, said Fela, guilty of enslaving Africans: the Nigerian regime, the South African apartheid regime of PW Botha, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, America’s Ronald Reagan and the ineffectual United Nations. Botha, Thatcher and Reagan are among the political leaders portrayed as beasts and devils on the front sleeve.
According to Lemi Ghariokwu, ‘Beasts Of No Nation’ was the first song Fela composed following his release from prison after having served 18 months of a five year sentence.
According to Lemi Ghariokwu, ‘Beasts Of No Nation’ was the first song Fela composed following his release from prison after having served 18 months of a five year sentence.