Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Fela Kuti once stated that, “without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat.” Which is very true! After watching the two videos below you will find out why.
Nigeria’s most famous and respected drummer, composer and songwriter Tony Oladipo Allen (born1940 in Lagos, Nigeria), who was one of the co-founders of the music genre called Afrobeat (music), was the musical director of Fela’s band Africa ’70. He recorded over 30 albums with Fela and Africa ’70!!!
About this video: rare early footage (shot by Ginger Baker) featuring Fela & Afrika 70 performing in the rainy southeastern town of Calabar, shortly after the the Nigerian civil war!!
