To end 2020 we make a Rendez-vous with three generations of afrobeat and celebrate a Nigerian musical dynasty. As Fela is honoured with a Black Plaque at his old music conservatoire Trinity Laban in Greenwich, we consider how the musical idiom he created remains more popular than ever. Track list: 1....
Tag Archives: Fela Kuti
With the very recent passing of Tony Allen, this set of recordings has special significance. He and South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela had been planning on making a record together for years and in 2010 this finally was about to become a reality. Producer Nick Gold got the two titans...
Tributes and homages to artists who recently passed away often sound trivial or trite if done by someone who wasn’t directly connected with them. That’s why we always repeat the mantra that we prefer to let the music do the talking and ask fellow musicians, who grew up and/or shared...
The legacy of Fela Kuti aka `The Black President’ looms large over London, from Kokoroko to afrobeats – the upstart nephew of the genre gone global that Fela created. To celebrate the late Lagosian’s birthday, his former sideman Bukky Leo will be joined by surviving members of Fela’s old band...
At times, we are the first to lose track of how many exciting music events happen in London each month, so we have decided to offer you some sort of “public musical service”, meant for all the locals and passers-by, with the aim of suggesting where to listen to some...
Newen Afrobeat are from Chile rather than Lagos, but are proof that afrobeat has become a global music to address injustice. Formed in Chile in 2009, Newen translates as ‘strength’ in the indigenous (and marginalised) Mapuche language, and the seven songs that make up the collective’s third album Curiche speak up...
It might only be at its second edition, but Innervisions Festival is already synonymous with quality music. The multi-venue event produced by AGMP will bring to London a 4-day-long full immersion in classy notes and extraordinary musicianship. Examples are acts like Gilberto Gil, Mavis Staple, Robert Glasper, Saul Williams…...
Antibalas bring the energy of afrobeat and jazz, and the fire of funk and dub, modelled from Fela Kuti’s band, Africa 70. The afrobeat orchestra are celebrating their twentieth year as a band on Daptone Records at London’s Jazz Cafe. Although well versed in their original songs, which blend all...
Hard to believe that one of the most sought-after DJs and producers in the global beats scene is going to make his debut behind a London DJ deck only on Friday. Thanks to Bustin’ Loose, Bosq will finally perform his long-awaited first show in the British capital in two days’ time at...
View Panda Palm bio here Panda Palm is a musical collaboration between Luke Martin and Lena Chevrollier, two Manchester-based DJs and producers. The duo is part of the world music DJ collective Me Gusta with whom they’ve been musically exploring the continents to provide an array of inspiring gems...