Fela Kuti
Orlando Julius obituary
Saxophonist, singer and bandleader whose fusions of highlife and American styles helped transform Nigerian music
Robin Denselow
26, Apr, 2022 @4:50 PM
Lemi Ghariokwu, Fela Kuti’s artist: ‘He always had someone for rolling joints. It was a rockstar lifestyle’
The painter impressed Nigeria’s Afrobeat pioneer, and soon he was creating intricate record covers at Kuti’s right hand. But amid violence and disorder, their friendship soured
Nathan Evans
21, Dec, 2021 @10:00 AM
Tony Allen: A Retrospective review – sprawling tribute gets the crowd on its feet
At almost three hours, Damon Albarn, Femi Koleoso, Ben Okri and co still struggled to encapsulate the full gamut of Allen’s creativity
Ammar Kalia
14, Nov, 2021 @12:28 PM
‘Our ethos was happy music and good vibes’: genre-busting Black British band Osibisa
Jimi Hendrix watched them rehearse, Stevie Wonder joined them on drums, and Fela Kuti partied with them in Lagos. Osibisa, whose African sunshine sound captivated the planet, have now returned
Garth Cartwright
29, Apr, 2021 @7:00 AM
Tony Allen: There Is No End review | Ammar Kalia's global album of the month
More cohesive than many a posthumous release, Allen’s legacy is well-served here, especially on the more experimental tracks
Ammar Kalia
02, Apr, 2021 @8:00 AM
Different beat: how Fela Kuti’s son and grandson are modernising the dynasty
Ahead of their new album, Femi and Made Kuti reflect on the Afrobeat pioneer’s legacy, their complex family, and the problems Nigeria still faces
Kate Hutchinson
31, Jan, 2021 @12:00 PM
'The system is rigged': Seun Kuti on reviving Fela's political party
The musician and youngest son of the Afrobeat legend has been galvanised to act after police brutality in Nigeria
Emmanuel Akinwotu in Lagos
19, Jan, 2021 @5:00 AM
TV tonight: Fela Kuti and the birth of afrobeat
A new film examines the Nigerian artist’s cultural identity and legacy of rhythmical protest. Plus: The Valhalla Murders begins. Here’s what to watch this evening
Ammar Kalia, Graeme Virtue, Hannah Verdier, Hannah J Davies and Paul Howlett
21, Nov, 2020 @6:00 AM
'His drums were singing, you know?' Tony Allen remembered by his collaborators
Angelique Kidjo, Jeff Mills, Sebastien Tellier and more remember the late drummer: his humility, his brilliance, and his awesome sportswear
Interviews by Ben Beaumont-Thomas
04, May, 2020 @10:13 AM
Tony Allen obituary
Masterful drummer and co-creator of Afrobeat, the fusion of funk, jazz and African styles that he pioneered with Fela Kuti
Robin Denselow
03, May, 2020 @2:50 PM
Tony Allen: the Afrobeat maverick who blazed a trail across the globe
The Nigerian musician was a restless creator who embraced the physicality of drumming and innovated until the end
Kate Hutchinson
01, May, 2020 @2:41 PM
Tony Allen: the Afrobeat pioneer's 10 finest recordings
From simmering dancefloor fillers to defiant resistance anthems, we pick the best of the legendary drummer’s tracks
Ammar Kalia, Global music critic
01, May, 2020 @1:43 PM
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