Tabansi Studio Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tabansi-studio-band/
Tabansi Studio Band – Wakar Alhazai Kano & Mus’En Sofua: four incredible tracks of late-70s/early 80s Afrobeat (almost-undiscovered) magic, but not Fela’s Yoruba/Pidgin Afrobeat.
This is Igbo and Hausa Afrobeat, a very different style…
Enjoy!
The beats are laid down by the seven legendary Martin Brothers —of ‘Money’ fame— whilst vocals are courtesy of a multi-lingual […]
Nath & Martin Brothers – Money
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nath-martin-brothers-money/
The Martin Brothers, actual brothers, also known as The Shadows International with Saxon Lee, behind Pax Nicholas on the “Na Teef” album or as Tabansi Studio Band, made themselves known as one of THE backing-studio-bands in Nigeria before working on this album together.
“Money” was recorded in the legendary Arc-studios, supervised by Fela Kuti’s drummer [...]
Heavier Yet – Seun Kuti
https://amf.didiermary.fr/heavier-yet-seun-kuti/
Executive produced by legendary musician Lenny Kravitz and Fela Kuti’s original engineer Sodi Marciszewer as artistic producer, here’s Seun Kuti’s new EP, “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)” in 2024. A Deluxe version was released 6 months later with collborations and remixes, featuring Kamasi Washington, POS of De La Soul, Adi Oasis, Alborosie and more. […]
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - Na Dem Feat. Tom Morello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnTt2g6Ae8o
Indeed featuring Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave/Prophets of Rage guitarist...
Kujenga – Ransome
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kujenga-ransome/
Ransome, by the SouthAfrican improvised music collective Kujenga, is a tribute song to Fela Kuti released in August 2025. It’s part of their EP “Common Ground.”
Common Ground is a small collection of songs written and inspired by different traditions of African music. It was recorded live in the church halls of […]
As you probably already know, following the posts here, I would never write this phrase: "his [Fela Kuti] influence persisted in contemporary Nigerian music, now called Afrobeats." Never...
https://africasacountry.com/2026/03/afrobeats-after-fela
BTW, Amapiano, used extensively in Wizkid's album, is from South Africa...
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.The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category [...]
Thoughts On Fela
Brian Eno
Video recorded in 2013 for Fela's 75th birthday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tABl5cVKJhM
Smahila & The S.B.’s
https://amf.didiermary.fr/smahila-sbs-african-movement/
2 tracks (African Movement & Natural Points), both 18+ minutes long, on this LP from 1977, by Smahila & The S.B.’s, known for their fusion of traditional beats with elements of Funk, Jazz, and Highlife.
When listening, ask yourself: is this feeling more like Fela Kuti or James Brown?
Dele Sosimi – Turbulent Times
https://amf.didiermary.fr/dele-sosimi-turbulent-times/
“Turbulent Times” is an album by musician and producer Dele Sosimi in 2002. Since mid-90s is based in London and words of the new generation of musicians, bands, and collectives emerging there (Kokoroko, Onipa, Keleketla!, etc.)
Dele’s career began when he joined Fela Kuti‘s Egypt 80, where he played keyboards for seven years (1979-1986). [...]
#AfroFunk #FelaKuti #FemiKuti #Jazz #Nigeria #Remixed #AfroBeat #AfroJazz
Kokoroko – Carry Me Home
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokoroko-carry-me-home/
“Before melody or harmony, there’s rhythm,” cites Sheila Maurice-Grey, the band leader of Kokoroko, when speaking to Dele Sosimi about musical structure. A profound statement that is reflected through the sonic depths of their hypnotically bracing new single, ‘Carry me home’. The track was inspired by conversations with the masterful Sosimi, whose technical ability in […]
Femi Kuti – The World is Changing
https://amf.didiermary.fr/femi-kuti-world-changing/
Femi Kuti released his 8th album “No Place for My Dream” in 2013, with the single “The World is Changing”, three years after “Africa For Africa”.
Poverty is winning the game…
Are you ready to fight?
The cover shows a striking photo of a woman walking past a vast garbage heap, […]
Nu Afrobeat Experience
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nu-afrobeat-experience/
The sounds of modern Afrobeat with “Nu Afrobeat Experience (Ultimate Afro-Funk Dance Grooves)” in 2002. Most of these artists stick to the basic blueprint created by Fela Kuti, but with more modern production. Others add varying degrees of other musical influences, like Tony Allen’s incorporation of HipHop or Jagunlabi’s Afrohouse dance sound [...]
#AfroFunk #AfroHouse #Compilation #Jazz #Remixed #TonyAllen #AfroBeat
Afrobeat No Go Die!
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afrobeat-no-go-die/
Released to coincide with Fela’s birthday [in 2001], “Afrobeat No Go Die” brings together recordings by the best Afrobeat artists on the scene, including cuts by Lagbaja and Dele Sosimi, which have never been on CD before, as well as Femi Kuti’s club hit “Beng Beng Beng”.
Other key tracks include cuts by original Fela drummer […]
BANTU – Disrupt The Programme
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bantu-disrupt-the-programme/
“Disrupt the Programme” was the first single from Bantu’s Everybody Get Agenda album in 2020, a few months before the EndSARS social movement and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria that occurred in October of 2020.
The Lagos-based 13-piece band BANTU is led by Nigerian German singer and social activist Ade Bantu. […]
Dele Sosimi & Estuary 21
https://amf.didiermary.fr/dele-sosimi-estuary-21/
Bamidele Olatunbosun Sosimi, known as Dele Sosimi, the UK based Afrobeat ambassador, former band member of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 and co-founder with Femi Kuti of the Positive Force finally unleashed his full debut album with The Estuary 21, entitled The Confluence LP in April 2024.
Afrobeat ambassador Dele Sosimi’s new album ‘The Confluence’ has […]
Newen Afrobeat, Chilean collective
https://amf.didiermary.fr/chilean-collective-newen-afrobeat-curiche/
The Chilean collective Newen Afrobeat gets inspiration from Fela’s music and activism.
In Chile, or rather, in all of South America, there’s no real information about Africa. There is a lot of ignorance about that big continent that has a lot of different cultures, but we just think of it as “Africa.” Like it’s just […]
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.
“Mèdaho” is the debut album from Brooklyn based afro-funksters Kaleta & Super Yamba Band [in 2019]. Fronted by Afrobeat and Juju veteran Leon […]
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. […]
Fela Kuti – Everything Scatter
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-everything-scatter/
2 songs are included in this 1975 LP: Everything Scatter / Who No Know Go Know.
Everything Scatter is about the person and actions of Fela and the members of Kalakuta Republic, which for a long time has become cause for controversy among the Nigerian public. Singing the song in the manner of a story […]
Africa Is The Future – Kologbo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/africa-future-kologbo/
Guitar legend Oghene Kologbo was born in Warri, Nigeria in 1957. His father was the well known highlife musician Joe King Kologbo. When Kologbo was a teenager, he began performing with the revolutionary Afrobeat master Fela Kuti. Kologbo went on to record more than 50 sides with Africa 70. He played the hypnotic tenor guitar […]
Orlando Julius, titan of Nigerian music
https://amf.didiermary.fr/orlando-julius-titan-of-nigerian-music/
African music pioneer, titan of Nigerian music around the world, mixing highlife and other African styles with American influences, Orlando Julius helped Fela Kuti form his early band Koola Lobitos and collaborated with Hugh Masekela & Lamont Dozier.
Orlando Julius made his debut as a musician in the 1950s in [...]
#AfroFunk #FullAlbum #Highlife #LiveMusic #Nigeria #OrlandoJulius #AfroBeat
A video essay on Fela Kuti, Nigeria’s most political musical icon, directed by Akinola Davies Jr, including interviews with Seun & Femi Kuti.
Spoken word and music by Nigerian musician Obongjayar.
"The death of his mum too really broke him."
One Day Go Be One Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVWFBcjfY0M
"Death is not Silence"
Fela Kuti – Unknown Soldier
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-unknown-soldier/
One of Fela’s response-pieces over the events of the infamous Kalakuta Republic raid in 1977, “Unknown Soldier (Parts 1&2)” is Fela’s vivid and chilling description of the events which took place that day.
Reports came days after the invasion that the works of “unknown soldiers” were responsible for the raping, beating and torturing those on […]
Fela Kuti – Coffin For Head of State
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-coffin-head-state/
One of Fela‘s responses to the Nigerian Army’s destruction of his Kalakuta Republic compound in February 1977, where his mother suffered lasting trauma, listen to “Coffin For Head of State” released in 1980.
After the sacking and burning of Fela’s Kalakuta Republic in 1977, Fela wrote several musical responses attacking the culpable Nigerian government, including [...]
