Femi Kuti's peaceful world will not be very peaceful.
In his peaceful world, there will be dancing, singing and a cacophony of horns, drums, guitars. What there will not be is government corruption, military violence, oppression or poverty.
Kuti, who brings his high-energy show to Red Butte Garden Sunday night, is a protest musician and party band rolled into one. Combining the two elements, he said, is the best way to deliver his sometimes difficult lyrical message.
"When a child is sick, you have to give it a bitter pill," Kuti said earlier this week. "But you give it a sweet drink to help the pill go down."
That "sweet drink" from Kuti is a nonstop barrage of Afrobeat, the unique style first mastered by his father, Fela, which combines elements of jazz, reggae, funk and soul, and backs it with a heavy dose of rhythm. The resulting blend grabs the listeners by the ears, drags them to their feet and demands that they start moving.
Accompanying the music, however, are very direct songs of protest, primarily about the plight of Africa. Like the music, the lyrical style was passed from his dad, who often used his music to directly criticize specific government officials in his home country of Nigeria.
On his latest album, 2008's "Day By Day," Kuti tends to take a broader view, with lyrics denouncing the state of the entire African continent. For example, on "You Better Ask Yourself," which starts out with a dusky trumpet solo before erupting into an energetic funk call-and-response, he asks why the continent with the richest resources has the poorest people.
While his music is meant to educate his audience, Kuti does not actually think there is much individuals can do. The primary problem in Africa is corruption, which was the same problem plaguing the continent in his father's day. The only difference, though, is that the governments were controlled by the military instead of bureaucrats.
"It's just as corrupt, but it's a different kind of corruption," he said. "It's more sophisticated … the government will provide buses, but they don't tell you who is getting the kickback. There is somebody making a lot of money from those buses."
As for the reception of his music by audiences, Kuti said that most people know what to expect, especially at smaller club shows. But if they only hear the music, half his message is still being delivered.
"They couldn't love the music without knowing the words," he said. "But even if they didn't get the words, the music is very uplifiting."
If you go ...
What: Femi Kuti, Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheater, 300 Wakara Way
When: June 14, 7 p.m.
How much: $32-$37
Phone: 801-585-0556
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com