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Noise For Vendor Mouth / Everything Scatter
Knitting Factory Records
Noise For Vendor Mouth (1975):
The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as — ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. Noise For Vendor Mouth is Fela’s indifference to that name calling because, for him, people in Kalakuta are really a bunch of hard working citizens, trying to survive in a society riddled with corruption and mismanagement. He adds that the real hooligans are those in authority who resort to political gangsterism, and sometimes military coups in order to resolve constitutional issues. He considers their criticisms as nothing but the noise made by street vendors to sell their wares.
Mattress: Fela has been accused by critics of not being concerned about the issue of feminism and unequal status of the sexes thus keeping in line with several traditions which they claim he arbitrarily upholds. Several issues, from the African point of view, are counterpoise to Western modern look. Take polygamy, Fela has been criticized for openly endorsing polygamy. How could a man who campaigns against the unequal status of sexes and racism, endorse a male domination. Fela’s justification for polygamy, apart from the traditional repopulation from slavery of Africa’s society, is the polygamous nature of man. Man is polygamous by nature. In Christian societies, where polygamy is not tolerated, men marry officially with one woman but keep mistresses. African men are more honest in their approach—keeping all the women in the know and under one roof in the spirit of family. Songs like Mattress may not help change Fela’s ‘macho’ image, but he is just making comparisons. ‘…mattress! Anything wey we dey sleep on top! Call am for me! Mattress…’. ‘e be mat! E be spring! E be bed! E be cushion! Mattress! Mattress!’.
- Mabinuori Kayode Idowu
Everything Scatter (1975):
Everything Scatter is about the person and actions of Fela and the members of Kalakuta Republic, which for a long time has become cause for controversy among the Nigerian public. Singing the song in the manner of a story teller with some history behind it, Fela presents the Nigerian society like a moving public bus driving past Kalakuta Republic. A passenger in the bus representing the establishment view, makes a remark condemning Fela and members of Kalakuta as: ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, ‘prostitutes’, and ‘political non-starters’. Another man who, like countless of Fela’s teaming admirers, sees him as: ‘Black President’, Chief Priest, Mystic man (Abami in Yoruba language), challenges the establishment man. Meanwhile, the debate spreads among all the passengers in the bus — those echoing government opinion of Fela and those against. The result is big commotion in the bus, like in all conflict. Everything Scatter. Successive military regimes in Nigeria, in their attempt to silence Fela’s bold criticisms of the establishment have labeled him a trouble maker. Fela however would not relent in his criticism of the corruption and colonial mentality of the establishment — the end result! Everything Scatter.
- Mabinuori Kayode Idowu
