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."
afrobeat
Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti has become the first African artist honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy.
He received his posthumous award during the 2026 Special Merit Awards, which took place in Los Angeles on 01/31/2026, alongside other international heavyweights, including Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon.
That award was received by his sons, Femi and Seun Kuti.
Edited 276d ago
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-anikulapo-kuti/
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, who died on this date aged 58, was a Nigerian bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat, an African music genre that combines West African music with Funk and Jazz. [...]
Edited 102d ago
Kokoroko – We Give Thanks
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokoroko-we-give-thanks/
8-piece band Kokoroko released their long-awaited debut album “Could We Be More” in August 2022.
Could We Be More is an expansive and ambitious album that speaks to the force of Kokoroko.
Each song possesses the energy which so naturally underpins the heartbeat of Kokoroko’s identity – deftly moving through afrobeat, highlife, soul, and funk across […]
Edited 273d ago
Fela Kuti – Shuffering & Shmiling
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-shuffering-shmiling/
From the LP “Shuffering and Shmiling” in 1978. Listen to the full track (21 minutes long), originally spanning two sides…
As Fela progressed as an artist, he also evolved into a political and social tour de force in Nigeria. In “Shuffering and Shmiling”, an expansive track spanning two sides and reaching over 20 minutes in […]
Edited 272d ago
Baloji – Buy Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/baloji-orchestre-katuba-kuku-buy-africa/
“Buy Africa” is a cover of Fela Kuti’s song by Baloji & L’Orchestre de la Katuba, Feat. Kuku for Red Hot + Fela, the tribute album released in 2013. The original song was recorded at Abbey Road for the album “London Scene” in 1971 (see below).
To understand where Fela’s musical quest […]
Edited 166d ago
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 […]
Edited 291d ago
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 288d ago
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 […]
Edited 257d ago
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 [...]
Edited 155d ago
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?
Edited 153d ago
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
Edited 153d ago
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 […]
Edited 153d ago
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, […]
Edited 152d ago
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
Edited 153d ago
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 […]
Edited 151d ago
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. […]
Edited 239d ago
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 […]
Edited 229d ago
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 […]
Edited 91d 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.
“Mèdaho” is the debut album from Brooklyn based afro-funksters Kaleta & Super Yamba Band [in 2019]. Fronted by Afrobeat and Juju veteran Leon […]
Edited 127d 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 127d ago