Red Hot, an AIDS awareness organisation, has entered into a partnership with cross-genre collaborators representing rock, hip-hop, Americana, and classical, for a forthcoming album release of Fela Kuti compositions, ‘RED HOT + FELA’, on October 15, 2013.

The release includes Fela’s classic anthems like “Lady” recorded by Tune Yards, Angelique Kidjo and Akua Naru; “Zombie” recorded by Spoek Mathambo, Cerebral Cortex and Frown; ;“Trouble Sleep, Yanga Wake Am” recorded by My Morning Jacket, Merrill Garbus, and Brittany Howard; “Sorrow, Tears & Blood” reworked by the Kronos Quartet along with TV. On The Radio’s Kyp Malone and Tunde Adembimpe.

Since Fela’s death in 1997, the Nigerian icon and Afrobeat originator has been transformed from musician’s musician with a cult-like following to a worldwide musical icon.

The last four years have seen the Broadway hit, FELA!, win Tony Awards and Knitting Factory Records re-issue the prolific Nigerian’s back catalogue and now, ‘RED HOT + FELA’.

Stuart Bogie, who contributed to the album’s “Sorrow Tears and Blood” and “ITT” as a member of Superhuman Happiness, represents a bridge between the early adopters of Afrobeat and the recent recruits of the genre: “Fela’s music has deeply inspired and impacted how we think about music,” Bogie reflects.

“From critical details like his use of guitars and bass lines in perfect rhythmic counterpoint, to his long and epic forms, his music is a treasure and deep reason for musicians all over the globe.”

Although Fela inspired each and every artist on the album, Afrobeat is not the musical major for most of these musicians, thus presenting challenging responsibilities in recreating Fela’s work.

Bogie stated: “One challenge was maintaining the lyrical integrity. Fela’s poetry is a critical component and we aren’t satisfied with getting it close - we want our tracks to honour his work the same as you would honour the lyrics of a Beatles, Bob Dylan, or Prince track.”

The partnership between Knitting Factory Records and Red Hot is particularly relevant to Fela Kuti given that he died of an AIDS-related illness himself.

Paul Heck explains: “We didn’t set out to make a ‘new sound of Africa’ or a cheap of the moment kind of album. We reached out to artists we loved, who were making deep and inspiring music. You can’t mess around with Fela. There’s too much poetry and spiritual force in the music. It’s hard to explain the life-long love affair that happens when you get into Fela Kuti’s music. It is eternal. You can’t ever deny it, you just love it”.

‘RED HOT + FELA’ is not a sequel to ‘Red Hot + Riot’ (2003). It’s a continuation, a desire to want to hear more. We wanted to hear new music in this new moment; to hear these incredible artists approaching these incredible songs. The artists on ‘RED HOT + FELA’ got seriously down with Fela’s music and spirit on this album.”