Fela Kuti – Upside Down
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-upside-down/
From the LP “Upside Down” released in 1976 (CD release 1997).
Sandra, the woman who stood by Fela and also brought him in contact with the Black Panther during his transformation years in the United States, came back to visit a highly popular and successful Fela in Nigeria in 1976. The track was written by […]
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – Black Woman
https://amf.didiermary.fr/seun-kuti-and-egypt-80-black-woman/
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 released their third studio album “A long way to the beginning” in 2014, co-produced By Robert Glasper. Among the 7 tracks are a few collaborations: with Nneka on “Black Woman,” Ghana’s Blitz the Ambassador (“African Smoke”) and M-1 of Dead Prez (“IMF“).
Celeste Ojatula – This Side of Love
Feat. Dwin, The Stoic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIyT8qlVerk
Les prophètes oubliés du groove africain
https://amf.didiermary.fr/prophetes-oublies-groove-africain/
Les prophètes oubliés du groove africain : éclipsés par l’ascension de l’astre Fela Kuti, ils ont pourtant fait danser l’Afrique des années funk. […] En Occident, le tout est ramassé dans une nouvelle catégorie —la world music— un magma informe qui s’est depuis effrité sous les coups de boutoirs répétés de labels indépendants, [...]
#70smusic #80smusic #Cameroon #Ghana #Libya #Nigeria #Soundcloud #AfroFunk #Funk
Amadou Balaké – Super Bar Konon Mousso
https://amf.didiermary.fr/super-bar-konon-mousso-amadou-balake/
Although the video says it was recorded in Lagos in 1978, the reality, as Discogs states and as many musicians and bands did at that time, is that Amadou Balaké (or Ballaké) from Burkina Faso gathered musicians in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
AfroFunk Mixed
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afrofunk-compilation/
A (too) short eclectic selection of Psychedelic, AfroFunk, AfroDisco and AfroLatino tracks, some remixed, from various origins and decades…
A few alternative vibes too, if you listen to the whole playlist.
Enjoy!
#70smusic #80smusic #AfroFunk #AfroHouse #AfroLatino #Disco #Dub #Mixtape #Nigeria #Remixed
Fela Kuti – Yellow Fever
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-yellow-fever/
“Yellow Fever”, released in 1976, is a scathing criticism of post-colonial Nigerians who cannot shake their “colonial mentality.” Fela rails on Nigerian (and African) women who bleach their skin as an act of beauty, contemptuously adding that, despite what they think, it only makes them less attractive.
Fela deplores the fashion among African women for […]
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.
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. [...]
Oriental Brothers International Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/oriental-brothers-international-band/
The Oriental Brothers International Band of Nigeria was a popular Igbo highlife band from Nigeria [based in Owerri] for several decades, known for their powerful lyrics (whether it be of proverbs, or specials dedicated to special people in the country of Nigeria), and deft instrumental work (whether of the lead guitar, or the conga man’s […]
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 […]
Juju Music | Documentary Trailer (1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJFu-9Ri2OI
"A unique performance documentary, Juju Music features the urban popular tribe music of Nigeria. The film includes a historic all-night Juju concert in Lagos featuring King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey."
More info:
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342606/
- https://www.jacquesholender.com/juju-music
Queen Oladunni Decency – Ayanmo l’Owo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/queen-oladunni-decency-ayanmo-lowo/
Serifatu Oladunni Oduguwa (1949-1978), known as Queen Oladunni Decency or Queen Mummy Juju, was a Nigerian singer and guitarist who specialized in the Jùjú genre of music.
Regarded as the first female guitarist in Nigeria, she was the founder and leader of a Jùjú music band called Her Majesty Queen Oladunni Decency and Her Unity […]
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela – Rejoice
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rejoice-tony-allen-hugh-masekela/
When Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela met in the 70s, during Apartheid, they talked about recording together. They had to wait till 2010 to work together in the UK, but the sessions were unfortunately archived. Finally, Rejoice has been released.
After Masekela passed away in 2018, the value of these recordings [...]
#FullAlbum #HughMasekela #Jazz #Nigeria #Remixed #SouthAfrica #TonyAllen
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 […]
Tunde Nightingale – Original ‘Owa Nbe’ Sound
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tunde-nightingale-owa-nbe-owambe/
“The Original ‘Owa Nbe’ Sound” (Vol .2) by Tunde Nightingale.
Tunde Nightingale was perhaps the first musician to become a hit performer playing Jùjú in the post World War II period. His particular spin on Jùjú was known as “s’o wa mbe” (is it there?), a slightly risqué reference to the beads worn by women […]
Fela Kuti & Africa 70 – Pansa Pansa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-africa-70-pansa-pansa/
This video for Pansa Pansa is one of the few pro-shot concerts of legendary musician Fela Kuti, playing with his band Africa 70 at the Jazz Festival in Berlin in 1978.
Underground System was among the better recordings of Fela’s late career, comprised of […]
Lady cover for Red Hot + Fela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/cover-lady-tune-yards-angelique-kidjo-akua-naru/
A cover of Fela Kuti‘s Lady with tUnE-yArDs, Angelique Kidjo, ?uestlove & Akua Naru for the album Red Hot + Fela in 2013.
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 [...]
Jambos Express – Mother Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/jambos-express-mother-africa/
Mother Africa is an EP, released in 1987 by Jambos Express with 4 songs. The Lead Vocals are by Prince Bola Agba, an in-demand session musician, and early and respected exponent of Funk. He’s also known for founding SJOB Movement. […]
SJOB Movement – Stone Funk
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sjob-movement-stone-funk/
“For a moment in the mid-1970s, SJOB Movement were le dernier cri in modern Nigerian music, representing the next step in the evolution of afro rhythms.”
Their album “A Move in the Right Direction” was released in 1976 and contained 5 tracks: Country Love, No One Cares, You Only Live Once, Omo Oloro (To […]
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...
