Fun-Da-Mental – Colour Photograph

Series nameFun-Da-Mental
Description

This photograph was taken in 1998 and features, from left to right, Fun-Da-Mental’s Impi-D, Scalper and Propaghandi. Each person has an American or European Union flag tied around their face in a Balaclava-style.

Date of Creation / Publication1998
CreatorUnknown
Associated Person/ OrganisationNation Records; Fun-Da-Mental
Location
Collection and Reference NumberNation Records Collection (GB 2661 NR)
Catalogue NumberNR/FD/16
CopyrightThe Creator and/ or associated person or organisation where applicable
Access to originalsThe originals are located at Nation Records Limited
Series notesTThe materials in this collection consist of a selection of Fun-Da-Mental photographs, CD sleeves, press releases and concert flyers.

About Fun-Da-Mental

Nation Records' Director Aki Nawaz (aka Propa-Ghandi) formed Fun-Da-Mental in August 1991, having been granted the remit to play at the annual Notting Hill Carnival in London. A co-founder and former drummer of the heavy metal pioneer group, Southern Death Cult (1984), Aki Nawaz has been called the spokesman of his generation (New Musical Express,8 July 1995). Born in 1961,in Gumpti, near Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Aki grew up in Northern England during the punk era. Musically, he was influenced by groups such as Public Enemy and The Sex Pistols, who encouraged him to speak out against the pop stars of the time,who had become icons worshipped by young people.

Growing up in the reality of the 1960-70s British immigrant communities, like many others of his generation, Aki Nawaz witnessed his parents perform the transition of settling in a new country and building a firm socio-economic and cultural foundation for future generations. The inevitable struggles which arose within the host country are well documented: racism, inequality, social injustice and lack of opportunity. As a result of these conditions, for young people of Aki's generation, the search for one's own cultural identity and the struggle against the racism and injustice suffered by immigrant communities became paramount. For Aki Nawaz, his outlet was music. His life experiences became the basis to Fun-Da-Mental's fervent humanitarian political agenda, advocating community harmony, mutual understanding of cultural pasts, presents and global economic equality.

Over the years, the band's voice has grown, handling issues of bigotry in British society, especially the demonisation and scape-goating of Islam in the West. Their music has created platforms on which to speak out on behalf of the oppressed victims of racism, religious wars, or the undermining of women and refuting the stereotypes of Indian civility, conservatism and passivity. To this end, Fun-Da-Mental propagates a blend of world music rhythms and tough hip-hop beats within a firm political schema. What critics have often interpreted as militant and aggressive attitudes in many Fun-Da-Mental lyrics, the group views as sincerity. There is no refuting, however, of the militant style of some Fun-Da-Mental lyrics. For example, in
Collection notesThe material from the Nation Records collection consists of various CD covers, press releases, promotional photography, lyrics and flyers from twelve of the bands signed to the record label since 1989.