One man is typically credited for the political, Nigerian music that fuses jazz, funk and traditional african music into a form known as Afrobeat - that man is Fela Anikulapo Kuti - the front-man, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, musical director and originator of the term Afrobeat. But Fela cannot be single-handedly credited with its creation. An integral part of the equation was self-taught drummer Tony Allen who brought us those unmistakeable rhymthms that Afrobeat is known for today.

Fela once reportedly claimed that without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat. A strong statement, but it only demonstrates what an integral part Tony Allen was in the creation of the sound.

Tony Allen played with Fela from the Koola Lobitos days, through the formation of Africa 70 and up until 1977 before parting ways to work independently. He formed the group, the Mighty Irokos that played strictly Afrobeat between 1981 and 1983, but left Nigeria for Europe in 1984 where he produced the Album N.E.P.A. along with musicians from King Sunny Ade’s band. The acronym known officially as the National Electrical Power Authority, it was better known for providing erratic power throughout Nigeria, often leaving areas without electricity for days. Tony allen appropriately re-purposed the acronym to mean, “Never Expect Power Always.”

On the title track of the album, Allen pays tribute to the phenomenon (that stays true to this day, 20 years later) in this Juju & FM-synth-infused 80s afrobeat tune.

Tony Allen - N.E.P.A.

(media offline)

Check out Tony Allen in the Gallery

(link to photos)

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 14th, 2005 at 5:08 pm and is filed under afrobeat. You can skip to the end and leave a response.