Essentials
​
Was a Nigerian musician who created the term “Afrobeat” and popularized it both inside and outside of Nigeria, he is known as the creator of the genre and one of the greatest musician minds of the Africa Music scene. Kuti used his music to hand out a message confrontational and controversial, related to the political climate of most of the African countries in the 70’s; this made politics essential to Afrobeat as he used social criticism to pave the way for social change.
​
Some music to listen to: Water No Get Enemy (left), Beasts Of No Nation, Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (pt 1 & 2).
Fela Kuti
femi kuti
​
Femi Kuti is the Eldest son of the great Fela Kuti, his career started while working along his father in Egypt 80. He has had a succesful career solo as well being nominated for 2 Grammys for his album Africa for Africa. His legacy keeps growing and going further apart from his fathers as he keeps expanding his music on his newest album “No place for my Dream” (2013). As his father his music also had an important voice in the political world, his album “Africa for Africa” criticized the “bad government” as a major problem in the Africa political world.
​
If you wanna listen to some of Femi's music: Check his album on the left, Water no get enemy (Ft. D'Angelo), Sorry Sorry.
tony allen
​
Tony Allen is a Nigerian drummer, composer and songwriter. In the early stages of his career he played jazz and highlife, in different groups along Nigeria. His career took a turn when Fela Kuti asked him to audition for a Jazz-Highlife band he was forming. In 1969 Allen and Kuti in the band recently renamed Africa ’70 started making Afrobeat, Allen recorded over 30 albums with Fela and Africa’70. But in the late 1970’s arguments over royalties/pay and recognition grew intensity forcing Allen into moving out of the group in search for his new sound. Allen Moved from Afrobeat to Afrofunk with his new group No Discrimination in 1980. Tony Allen Still makes music till this day as he has worked on 5 different songs only in 2017.
​
If you wanna listen to some Tony Allen, look no further, check out his album on the left.
​
Onyeabor was a Nigerian Funk Musician and businessman. His music was widely heard in Nigeria in the late 70’s and early 80s’. Even though his music was a success in Nigeria, he remained an exclusive and enigmatic character. Onyeabor self-released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 and then became a born-again Christian, refusing to ever speak about himself or his music again. Onyeabor Changed his mind in 2014 when he conducted an interview to BBC 6 Music, in which he explained his plans to release new material, however he died in 2017 without releasing the new material. Even though he never made Afrobeat per-se he is seen as a predecessor to the genre as his funky style is very similar.
On the left you'll Find an album full of Onyeabor.