Echoes of Afrobeat Rhythms

From Seun and Femi Kuti's direct lineage to Burna Boy and The Cavemen., Fela Kuti's polyrhythmic drumming shapes Afrobeat's intricate, evolving sound.

Tracklist

  1. Love and Revolution — Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
  2. Pà Pá Pà — Femi Kuti
  3. Femi — Made Kuti
  4. E Go Betta — Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra
  5. City Boys — Burna Boy
  6. Bena — The Cavemen.
  7. God Gave Me Feet For Dancing — Ezra Collective (feat. Yazmin Lacey)
  8. Stranger Than Fiction — Moses Boyd

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Late night session. Let's get into it.

Love and Revolution — Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

Seun Kuti, who took the helm of his father Fela Kuti's legendary Egypt 80 band in 1997, continues the direct lineage of Afrobeat drumming, maintaining its foundational rhythmic complexity. This is their powerful 'Love and Revolution'.

Pà Pá Pà — Femi Kuti

Carrying the Kuti family's rhythmic torch, Fela's eldest son, Femi Kuti, formed his own band, Positive Force, in 1986. They often feature two drummers and two percussionists, creating a dense, intricate groove, as heard on 'Pà Pá Pà'.

Femi — Made Kuti

The Kuti family's musical legacy extends to a third generation with Made Kuti. Femi's son, a multi-instrumentalist, played all instruments, including drums, on his critically acclaimed 2021 debut album 'For(e)ward', featuring tracks like 'Femi'.

E Go Betta — Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra

Dele Sosimi, who served as keyboardist and musical director for Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 and Femi Kuti's Positive Force, now leads his own Afrobeat Orchestra. Sosimi describes the best Afrobeat as 'like watching the perfectly synchronized gears of a Rolls Royce engine,' a testament to the intricate drumming heard on 'E Go Betta'.

City Boys — Burna Boy

Tony Allen's polyrhythmic drumming remains foundational, inspiring contemporary Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, whose 'Afro-fusion' sound integrates traditional Afrobeat. Burna Boy has a direct link to this legacy; his grandfather, Benson Idonije, was Fela Kuti's first manager in the 1960s. Hear the connection on 'City Boys'.

Bena — The Cavemen.

The broader 'Afrobeats' genre, popularized in the 2010s, represents a diverse evolution, drawing from global styles while retaining a rhythmic connection to Afrobeat. Nigerian duo The Cavemen. exemplify this fusion, blending highlife with modern sounds on tracks like 'Bena'.

God Gave Me Feet For Dancing — Ezra Collective (feat. Yazmin Lacey)

Tony Allen himself expanded horizons, fusing his Afrobeat grooves with rap, dub reggae, and electronic beats, and collaborating with diverse artists globally. Ezra Collective, featuring Yazmin Lacey, carries this spirit of rhythmic exploration on 'God Gave Me Feet For Dancing'.

Stranger Than Fiction — Moses Boyd

Allen's innovative spirit, rooted in his self-taught mastery of the Western drum kit and absorption of American jazz masters like Art Blakey, continues to resonate internationally. Moses Boyd, a contemporary jazz drummer, channels this intricate, cross-genre rhythmic influence on 'Stranger Than Fiction'.

Thank you for listening to OffStereo. Remember how the beat evolves, always finding new hands to keep the heart of afrobeat alive and pulsing.