Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokolo-afrobeat-orchestra/
Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra was (is?) an American Afrobeat band from New York City, founded by Ray Lugo and formed in 2001.
Edited 139d ago
afrobeat
Afrobeat Brazil
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afrobeat-brazil/
Afrobeat has seen a solid surge of support for years through multiple reincarnations amongst the underground scene in Brazil. All of the state’s capital cities have at least a band championing the movement, as musicians from diverse corners of the contemporary Brazilian music scene get inspired by Afrobeat and infuse elements into their own work. […]
Kokoroko – Abusey Junction
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokoroko-abusey-junction-we-out-here/
Released in 2018, “Abusey Junction” is the first record track of 8-piece band, London-based jazz collective Kokoroko.
“We Out Here” is a primer on London’s bright-burning young jazz scene. This new compilation brings together a collection of some of its sharpest talents. A set of nine newly-recorded tracks, We Out Here captures a moment where […]
Edited 138d ago
Red Hot + Riot
https://amf.didiermary.fr/red-hot-riot-fela-kuti/
2002’s Red Hot + Riot album is available on streaming platforms in a Deluxe reissue.
“The original album had to be heavily edited to fit the time limit of a physical CD, so there was a wealth of bonus material including extended versions of many tracks; along with early mixes, accapellas, instrumentals and more. […]
Edited 137d ago
Kiala Nzavotunga – Je m’appelle Kiala
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kiala-nzavotunga-je-m-appelle-kiala/
Kiala Nzavotunga played guitar for Fela (with Egypt 80, between 1981 and 1983) and is one of the founders of Ghetto Blaster in Paris (1984-1989).
Kiala Nzavotunga is a singer/guitarist/songwriter born in Angola. After moving to Lagos as a young man, Kiala solidified his mark […]
Edited 50d ago
Etuk Ubong – Africa Today
https://amf.didiermary.fr/etuk-ubong-africa-today/
Reflecting the urgency of his messages, Etuk Ubong’s fast-paced channelling of Afrobeat, highlife, and jazz – encompassing echoes of Ellingtonian intricacy, blue period Miles, Coltrane transcendence, the roots rebirth of Masekela – all inspired by the ancestral ever-presence of Ekombi ritual drumming, creates a unique confluence of musical and spiritual questing. [...]
Edited 50d ago
Kola Ogunkoya – Easy Motion Owambe
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kola-ogunkoya-easy-motion-owambe/
Kola Ogunkoya is a Nigerian Afrobeat musician who uses the term “Afro Gbedu” to describe his style of music, which includes Jazz, Highlife, Jùjú, Funk and traditional Yoruba music.
Edited 128d ago
Fela Kuti Box Set – The Legacy
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-box-set-the-legacy/
The Fela Kuti Box Set curated by Idris Elba is out now! In addition, a short documentary entitled “Fela Kuti: The Legacy” is available for viewing (below), revealing the Afrobeat pioneer’s cultural impact.
Directed by Kayode Thomas, it delves into the profound influence Fela had on fashion, style, and culture, as well as his impactful […]
Edited 127d ago
Fela Kuti – Birth Anniversary
https://amf.didiermary.fr/birth-anniversary-fela-kuti/
This is the anniversary of Fela Kuti‘s birth (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997).
Regarded, with Tony Allen, as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, he was referred to as one of Africa’s most “challenging and charismatic music performers,” at the height of his popularity.
For this birth anniversary, it’s also important to remember that […]
Edited 127d ago
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. […]
Edited 124d ago
Gangbé – Documentary
https://amf.didiermary.fr/documentary-arnaud-robert-gangbe-brass-band/
Preview of the 2014 documentary by Arnaud Robert relating Gangbé Brass Band‘s “quest” to record their new album and play in Lagos.
The adventure of a Benin brass band on the road to Lagos, to perform with Femi Kuti at the Shrine. […]
Edited 122d ago
Gangbé Brass Band – Remember Fela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/whendo-gangbe-brass-band-remember-fela/
Remember Fela is from Gangbé’s album Whendo in 2004, a tribute to Fela Kuti by the Beninese Brass Band.
Edited 122d ago
London Afrobeat Collective – Power To The Women
https://amf.didiermary.fr/london-afrobeat-collective-power-women/
From album “Humans” in 2019 by London Afrobeat Collective, that offers bold brass lines, hypnotic danceable grooves and socially conscious lyrics, to continue Fela Kuti‘s mission to fight for political and social change.
Edited 121d ago
Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble – Min He Mon Egbé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/helsinki-cotonou-ensemble-min-he-mon-egbe/
I met Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble a few years ago and even organized a live show in the suburbs of Cotonou in 2015, with a few members of the Alle’sTones band I produced at the time.
This song is from their 3rd album, released in 2021. Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble is a Finnish–Beninese Afrobeat and Funk band, founded […]
Edited 119d ago
Femi Kuti - Live at North Sea Jazz Festival 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUqIR_DpPkA
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – Struggle Sounds
https://amf.didiermary.fr/seun-kuti-egypt-80-struggle-sounds/
Live and Direct-to-Disc version of a single from Seun Kuti’s album “Black Times” in 2018.
“Struggle music, struggle sounds / Struggle people, struggle now”
Edited 35d ago
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela – Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tony-allen-hugh-masekela-lagos-never-gonna-be-same/
“Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same)” is a single taken from Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela’s very special collaboration “Rejoice“.
In this track, Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela pay tribute to Fela Kuti.
#HughMasekela #Jazz #Nigeria #SouthAfrica #TonyAllen #AfroBeat
Edited 114d ago
Geraldo Pino, Afrobeat’s Godfather
https://amf.didiermary.fr/geraldo-pino-afrobeat-godfather/
Geraldo Pino is considered, including by Fela himself, the Godfather of Afrobeat.
Geraldo Pino Biography
By Jason Ankeny / AllMusic
The acknowledged godfather of Afrobeat, Sierra Leone native Geraldo Pino laid the foundation for the West African soul and funk revolution of the 1970s.
Born Gerald Pine in Freetown on February 10, 1939, he was the […]
Edited 110d ago
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. […]
Edited 109d ago
Ezra Collective – Lady
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ezra-collective-lady/
“Our band has been paying tribute to Fela Kuti’s music since we first started releasing music,” Femi Koleoso, leader of the Afro-fusion quintet Ezra Collective, said.
A refreshing take by Ezra Collective on Fela Kuti’s 1972 classic, “Lady,” commissioned by the Fela Kuti estate, this record is part of the re-issue of Fela Kuti’s 1972 […]
Edited 109d ago
Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra
https://amf.didiermary.fr/funmilayo-afrobeat-orquestra/
Brazil’s Afrobeat awakening is nothing new. However, for Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra, claiming their space on the global Afrobeat scene is something revolutionary. Founded in 2019, by vocalist and saxophonist Stela Nesrine and trumpet player Larissa Oliveira, the eleven-piece group emerged as the world’s first Afrobeat band composed of only black women, an all-women and nonbinary […]
Edited 106d ago
Akido – Afro-psych Rock
https://amf.didiermary.fr/akido-afro-psych-rock/
Akido released this self-titled album in 1972, produced by Small Faces/Faces bassist Ronnie Lane. The band for this unique record consisted of Ghanaian percussionist Neemoi “Speedy” Acquaye (who also worked with The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Ginger Baker’s Airforce (1970), Rod Stewart and many others), Nigerian bassist Biddy Wright (a member of Blo), [...]
Edited 104d ago
Fela Anikulapo Kuti - First European Tour (1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ops4V7S9tsc
"Exclusive musical documentary made in March 1981 during the First European Tour of Fela and the Africa 70. The concert was recorded at Forest National in Brussels on March 18, 1981."
More on AMF: https://amf.didiermary.fr/tag/felakuti/
Rhythm Showcase (2020)
"Sink your teeth into this baker’s dozen of tantalizing, previously unreleased songs by Antibalas, Menahan Street Band, Innov Gnawa, as well as other deep cuts and diasporic dialogues from across space and time."
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 [...]
Edited 22d ago