News in from World Music Network and their launch of a new format for the reliable Rough Guides to Music series. Now comprising a two c.d. set to include a bonus source c.d presented in digipak with the booklet translated into French and Spanish. The first release in this new format will be on 29th March with the Rough Guide to Afrobeat Revival with the bonus c.d. form Kokolo.
Afrobeat is the funky African dance groove crafted by Nigeria's Fela Kuti. New generations worldwide, celebrate his enduring legacy to proclaim: Music is the weapon of the future.
What can be said about the legendary Tony Allen, the be-bop informed rhythm machine, that has not already been said? Fela Kuti once once stated that "without Tony Allen there would be no Afrobeat". 'Black Voices' now stands as as a milestone in the Afrobeat Revival and Tony's second album Home Cooking was made with the help of the Unsung Heroes production squad and featuring the likes of Ty, Damon Albarn and Eska. The Kuti family has been making news in the world of music for some time now, but it may be Fela's youngest son Seun Kuti, who carries the torch for pure unadulterated Afrobeat. Having been a member of Fela's later band since the age of nine, the gravel-voiced Seun 's overall sound is closest to his father's. The current unit is , in fact, Fela's own group, Egypt 80, with alto saxophonist Lekan Animashaun as musical director. 'Think Africa' was recorded in Lagos in 2006 with Pidgin English lyrics concerning government corruption. Keyboardist,arranger, vocalist and educator Dele Sosimi's 'Afro Groove' is quite a jazzy number and in the musical spirit of Fela. In fact Dele and his childhood friend Femi Kuti were leading players in Egypt 80, joining in 1979. In 1986 Dele and Femi left to form their own band, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti and the Positive Force, of which Dele was the musical director and bandleader.
Credited with introducing a new generation to Afrobeat is the Brooklyn based collective, Antibalas who have been making waves recently, delivering the sound track to the new musical Fela!, showing Off Broadway. Also emerging from the contemporary Afrobeat revival scene in New York City is Kokolo. Founded by Venezuelan - American Ray Lugo and British trombonist Chris Morrow, incorporating a variety of influences including Latin, Brazilian, Funk, Reggae and Hip Hop. Kokolo has gone through many changes, spawning the groups Akoya and Zozo Afrobeat as well as releasing three critically acclaimed albums, including the free bonus c.d. 'More Consideration'.
Brooklyn based multi instrumentalist and vocalist Toli Almasi founded Femm Nameless, an all female group that is a welcome tonic to the most frustrating thing about the Afrobeat movement, a male-centric view of the world. 'Ibajebe' asks "what if" - what if the order were turned upside down, what if we had the courage to unite and ask the tough questions, see each other's reflection in one another's eyes? We could challenge the status quo, question authority,fight injustice, eradicate inequality. Fela's lyrics certainly commented on power dynamics, but Toli's fearless questioning makes new statements about the subject in a feminine voice that carries a universal message.
