From the LP I.T.T. (International Thief Thief) released in 1979.
Fela and his political party Movement Of The People are banned from contesting Nigeria’s presidential election. Fela forms a new Afrika 70 and plays a comeback concert at the University of Ife. He also defies police opposition and opens a new Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, […]
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-international-thief-itt/
Fela Kuti – Gentleman (LP)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-gentleman-lp/
1973’s “Gentleman” is the 7th in the series of celebratory Fela 50th Anniversary reissues.
Like Fela’s other early 70’s releases, he used each side of his LPs to create a deep groove that pulls the listener in and follows with metaphoric lyrics that call out and critique the corrupt hangover of colonialism. Gentleman is the […]
Fela Kuti – Confusion Break Bones (C.B.B.)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-confusion-break-bones-cbb/
Confusion Break Bones is a long track (29:10) by Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 on their album “Underground System” from 1992.
“Fela releases Underground System, which will be the final album of newly recorded studio material to be issued during his lifetime. The album is inspired in part by the 1987 assassination of Fela’s friend, […]
Fela Kuti – Mr Follow Follow
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-mr-follow-follow/
Fela Kuti’s Mr Follow Follow was released in 1976/77 on the Zombie album.
The song is about those who allow themselves to be led blindly by others.
“…if you dey follow them book! Na inside cupboard you go quench!… Cockroach dey! Rat dey!… Na inside darkness you go dey! If you have to follow them books, […]
Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokolo-afrobeat-orchestra/
Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra was (is?) an American Afrobeat band from New York City, founded by Ray Lugo and formed in 2001.
Afrobeat Brazil
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afrobeat-brazil/
Afrobeat has seen a solid surge of support for years through multiple reincarnations amongst the underground scene in Brazil. All of the state’s capital cities have at least a band championing the movement, as musicians from diverse corners of the contemporary Brazilian music scene get inspired by Afrobeat and infuse elements into their own work. […]
Kokoroko – Abusey Junction
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokoroko-abusey-junction-we-out-here/
Released in 2018, “Abusey Junction” is the first record track of 8-piece band, London-based jazz collective Kokoroko.
“We Out Here” is a primer on London’s bright-burning young jazz scene. This new compilation brings together a collection of some of its sharpest talents. A set of nine newly-recorded tracks, We Out Here captures a moment where […]
Red Hot + Riot
https://amf.didiermary.fr/red-hot-riot-fela-kuti/
2002’s Red Hot + Riot album is available on streaming platforms in a Deluxe reissue.
“The original album had to be heavily edited to fit the time limit of a physical CD, so there was a wealth of bonus material including extended versions of many tracks; along with early mixes, accapellas, instrumentals and more. […]
Kiala Nzavotunga – Je m’appelle Kiala
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kiala-nzavotunga-je-m-appelle-kiala/
Kiala Nzavotunga played guitar for Fela (with Egypt 80, between 1981 and 1983) and is one of the founders of Ghetto Blaster in Paris (1984-1989).
Kiala Nzavotunga is a singer/guitarist/songwriter born in Angola. After moving to Lagos as a young man, Kiala solidified his mark […]
Etuk Ubong – Africa Today
https://amf.didiermary.fr/etuk-ubong-africa-today/
Reflecting the urgency of his messages, Etuk Ubong’s fast-paced channelling of Afrobeat, highlife, and jazz – encompassing echoes of Ellingtonian intricacy, blue period Miles, Coltrane transcendence, the roots rebirth of Masekela – all inspired by the ancestral ever-presence of Ekombi ritual drumming, creates a unique confluence of musical and spiritual questing. [...]
Thievery Corporation – Vampires Feat. Femi Kuti
https://amf.didiermary.fr/thievery-corporation-vampires-femi-kuti/
“Vampires” featuring Femi Kuti comes from the album, “Radio Retaliation” by Thievery Corporation in 2008.
Radio Retaliation is the fifth studio album by American electronic music duo Thievery Corporation, released on September 23, 2008, and was intended to be a political album.
Kola Ogunkoya – Easy Motion Owambe
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kola-ogunkoya-easy-motion-owambe/
Kola Ogunkoya is a Nigerian Afrobeat musician who uses the term “Afro Gbedu” to describe his style of music, which includes Jazz, Highlife, Jùjú, Funk and traditional Yoruba music.
Fela Kuti Box Set – The Legacy
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-box-set-the-legacy/
The Fela Kuti Box Set curated by Idris Elba is out now! In addition, a short documentary entitled “Fela Kuti: The Legacy” is available for viewing (below), revealing the Afrobeat pioneer’s cultural impact.
Directed by Kayode Thomas, it delves into the profound influence Fela had on fashion, style, and culture, as well as his impactful […]
Fela Kuti – Birth Anniversary
https://amf.didiermary.fr/birth-anniversary-fela-kuti/
This is the anniversary of Fela Kuti‘s birth (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997).
Regarded, with Tony Allen, as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, he was referred to as one of Africa’s most “challenging and charismatic music performers,” at the height of his popularity.
For this birth anniversary, it’s also important to remember that […]
Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kaleta-super-yamba-band/
With Afrobeat & Juju veteran Leon Ligan-Majek (aka Kaleta) —a native of Benin Republic— on lead guitar, the Brooklyn-based Afro-Funk band Super Yamba Band explores the psychedelic sounds from Benin & Nigeria. […]
Gangbé – Documentary
https://amf.didiermary.fr/documentary-arnaud-robert-gangbe-brass-band/
Preview of the 2014 documentary by Arnaud Robert relating Gangbé Brass Band‘s “quest” to record their new album and play in Lagos.
The adventure of a Benin brass band on the road to Lagos, to perform with Femi Kuti at the Shrine. […]
Gangbé Brass Band – Remember Fela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/whendo-gangbe-brass-band-remember-fela/
Remember Fela is from Gangbé’s album Whendo in 2004, a tribute to Fela Kuti by the Beninese Brass Band.
London Afrobeat Collective – Power To The Women
https://amf.didiermary.fr/london-afrobeat-collective-power-women/
From album “Humans” in 2019 by London Afrobeat Collective, that offers bold brass lines, hypnotic danceable grooves and socially conscious lyrics, to continue Fela Kuti‘s mission to fight for political and social change.
Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble – Min He Mon Egbé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/helsinki-cotonou-ensemble-min-he-mon-egbe/
I met Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble a few years ago and even organized a live show in the suburbs of Cotonou in 2015, with a few members of the Alle’sTones band I produced at the time.
This song is from their 3rd album, released in 2021. Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble is a Finnish–Beninese Afrobeat and Funk band, founded […]
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela – Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tony-allen-hugh-masekela-lagos-never-gonna-be-same/
“Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same)” is a single taken from Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela’s very special collaboration “Rejoice“.
In this track, Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela pay tribute to Fela Kuti.
#HughMasekela #Jazz #Nigeria #SouthAfrica #TonyAllen #AfroBeat
Geraldo Pino, Afrobeat’s Godfather
https://amf.didiermary.fr/geraldo-pino-afrobeat-godfather/
Geraldo Pino is considered, including by Fela himself, the Godfather of Afrobeat.
Geraldo Pino Biography
By Jason Ankeny / AllMusic
The acknowledged godfather of Afrobeat, Sierra Leone native Geraldo Pino laid the foundation for the West African soul and funk revolution of the 1970s.
Born Gerald Pine in Freetown on February 10, 1939, he was the […]
The Spirit of Fela is Alive and Well!
https://amf.didiermary.fr/spirit-fela-alive-well-kaleta-remix/
An explosive slice of Afrobeat from Kaleta (Leon Ligan-Majek), originally clocking in at over 14 minutes, has been chopped virtually in half to add more punch and immediacy. […]
Ezra Collective – Lady
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ezra-collective-lady/
“Our band has been paying tribute to Fela Kuti’s music since we first started releasing music,” Femi Koleoso, leader of the Afro-fusion quintet Ezra Collective, said.
A refreshing take by Ezra Collective on Fela Kuti’s 1972 classic, “Lady,” commissioned by the Fela Kuti estate, this record is part of the re-issue of Fela Kuti’s 1972 […]
Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra
https://amf.didiermary.fr/funmilayo-afrobeat-orquestra/
Brazil’s Afrobeat awakening is nothing new. However, for Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra, claiming their space on the global Afrobeat scene is something revolutionary. Founded in 2019, by vocalist and saxophonist Stela Nesrine and trumpet player Larissa Oliveira, the eleven-piece group emerged as the world’s first Afrobeat band composed of only black women, an all-women and nonbinary […]
Akido – Afro-psych Rock
https://amf.didiermary.fr/akido-afro-psych-rock/
Akido released this self-titled album in 1972, produced by Small Faces/Faces bassist Ronnie Lane. The band for this unique record consisted of Ghanaian percussionist Neemoi “Speedy” Acquaye (who also worked with The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Ginger Baker’s Airforce (1970), Rod Stewart and many others), Nigerian bassist Biddy Wright (a member of Blo), [...]
