AFROBEAT LEGEND TO PERFORM AT FESTIVAL’S EXCLUSIVE ART EXHIBITION

"Tony Allen is probably the most important musician of the past 50 years."

Brian Eno Pioneering Afrobeat musician Tony Allen will perform at the London launch of BASS Festival 2009, kicking off the festival’s month-long celebration of Africa.
Allen’s appearance will coincide with the opening of an exclusive art exhibition that documents the work of Ghariokwu Lemi, best-known for designing 2000 album sleeves, including nearly 30 for iconic Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.
Allen, the former musical director and drummer in Fela Kuti’s band, will appear alongside other celebrated African musicians on Tuesday 9 June at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, London.Fela Kuti once stated that “without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat”.
His unique drumming style, which incorporates all four limbs, helped shape the funky rhythms that defined the genre.Since his influential work in the 70s,
Allen has established himself as an artist in his own right, recording and touring with his own band as well as collaborating with acclaimed contemporary musicians such as Sébastian Tellier, Air, Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn’s The Good, the Bad and the Queen.
Allen’s performance at BASS precedes the release of his new album ‘Secret Agent’, released in June 2009.
Joining him on the night and also performing will be Fela Kuti keyboard player Dele Sosimi, singer/dancer Wunmi and stalwarts of the diasporic scene Eric Soul & Rich Medina.
Feel free to spread the word as the chance to witness those incredible artists under the same roof at any one time in the future is very slim indeed....Lemi will also be appearing to curate the launch of the exhibition.

The ‘Art’s Own Kind’ launch will take place on 9 June at Rich Mix, Shoreditch, London. Entry is free and from 7.30pm onwards.

The Day after Edge09 present AFROBEAT: A CULTURE - a forum for all Afrobeat headz with a stellar panel that includes Lemi Ghariokwu (The Man responsible for Fela's artwork)Tony Allen (Afrobeat Master drummer) Rich Medina (Jump'n'Funk NYC)Wumni (Afrobeat Queen) Dele Sosimi (Keys/Egypt80).
The discussion will be hosted by Paul Bradshaw (Edge09/Straight No Chaser). Join us and a host of invited guests to assess the global impact of Afrobeat - a culture of creativity and resistance.

Art’s Own Kind 8June - 6 July 2009 Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, For more information on BASS Festival, including full line-up details, please visit www.bassfestival.co.uk.-ENDS-Press enquiries:
Please contact Luke McNaney at Rewired PR luke@rewiredpr.com.

Nigeria's Top 10 Musician for 2008

AfricanLoft, the community portal for the global African and Afrocentric audience has announced Nigeria’s Top 10 Musicians for 2008.
AfricanLoft presented the movers and shakers of the Nigerian music scene - the “9ja Top 10” in multimedia, using reports from several media sources including YouTube, Nigerian Punch and AfricanLoft Lounge.
I was curious to see if one of my favourite artists in recent times would be number 1 on the list, and as expected, there he was…

The List

1. D’banj Won several awards in 2008 including the MAMA’s Best African Act.

2. Timaya His dancehall tracks, especially Timaya, endeared him to so many fans.

3. 9ice First, he left the shores of the country for the first time in 2008. Secondly, he made so much money and thirdly, he got married to his babe. To cap it all, his Gongo Aso has fetched him so many national and international awards.

4. Naeto CHe came from nowhere and suddenly, Naeto C is big on the rap music scene. He is certainly going places and winning awards.

5. P Square 28year-old Peter and Paul Okoye proved their detractors wrong with Game Over, which had the Do Me track

6. Mike Aremu The numero uno gospel jazz saxophonist (several of his audio files are on AfricanLoft) takes his music to newer heights in 2008 “Arabarabaribita”, a collaboration featuring Sasha is one big smash hit, and a frank reminder that Mike is not just about blowing the sax: he’s also an entertainer.

7. Olu Maintain He came out with his hit track, Yahozee, even had a wonderful perfomance with US former Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

8. Asa The Jailer crooner was just the bomb in 2008; won an international award in France.

9.FazeFaze did not go Kolomental this year, rather, he became more ‘original’ with his ‘Originality’ album.

10. 2FaceInnocent Idibia aka 2Face, is still the man of the moment one of few Nigerian artistes that have toured the globe.

You can tell us what you think about this list and if your favourite Nigerian musician made it to the list.

2Face Releas, Akon & Faze

2face released his long awaited album last week which included the much hyped collabo with American RnB star Rkelly, Flex. Some fans were not quite excited by the duet, perhaps it was below their expectations, and however the album contains other great records made with talented local artists.

On the other hand, 2face ex-plantashun boiz band member has been enjoying much success and making being a successful artist look so easy, we are talking of Nigeria's RnB king, FAZE.

Faze has never had a single that sold less than 1 million copies in a country where artist struggle very hard to legally sell just 50,000 copies, no wonder Akon wants to have him on his konvict label by any means. Faze released his originality album in october and it has since gone platinum having sold over 1 million copies again, the album include his party track dutty whine, his hit track am in love and the title track originality; you can listen to all these tracks and more on Naijapals.com, you will also be able to order a copy of this album from foreverfaze.com, remember to visit faze official profile on Naijapals.com at www.naijapals.com/faze.

The Event

Afrobeat dancers perform at 'Felabration,' an annual event paying homage to Afrobeat music founder Fela Kuti, in Lagos, Nigeria in the early hours of Sunday Oct. 19, 2008. Thousands of Afrobeat enthusiasts danced through the night in a cavernous warehouse to celebrate what would have been the 70th birthday of the late Nigerian music legend and political activist.
(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

FELABRATION

As the 2008 edition of Felabration,

The annual event put together in celebration of the birthday of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, holds between 14 and 19 October, artistes are rallying round the organisers.

This was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the members of Felabration committee led by Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti.

Yeni said Weird MC, Paul Play, Olu Maintain, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Sound Sultan, Sasha, Yinka Davies, Dr. Victor Uwaifo, etc. have signified their intention to perform at the annual event. According to Yeni, the committee members are still trying to speak with the king of World Beats, Otunba Sunday Ishola Adeniyi Adegeye a.k.a. King Sunday Ade, to perform.

“We will also be rounding off discussions with Dr. Victor Olaiya, to be part of Felabration,”

she told P.M. Entertainment.Another member of the committee, Lulu Onoikhua, said African Express, a collection of artistes from Africa, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, will be part of this year’s edition of Felabration.“In fact, they will arrive on 27 September, in preparation for the event,” Onoikhua disclosed, adding that Cowbell will be branding the vehicles to be used for Midnight Life on 18 October.

Speaking on why Seun Anikulapo-Kuti who played last year will not be around for the event, Yeni said: “Seun will be going on tour.

I have told his manager to make sure that his tour next year does not coincide with Felabration. However, Femi will perform this year.”Fela’s first daughter said that the Lagos State government, through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has adopted the 2008 Felabration, while Ogun State promised to be part of next year’s event.

SEE LIVE @

http://aramide.blogspot.com/2007/07/felabration-and-naija-humour.html

Pease

Baba 70, or simple FELA that’s the name we all called him I mean the kids in the area.
In the year 1980 September to be precise, my family moved in from Kaduna state of Nigeria from a transfer, my Dad an air force aircraft technician, has been transfer from Kaduna to Lagos, No. 25 Oluwalemu Street Ikeja is where we reside the street is a very peaceful one surrounded by John Olugbo street , Atinuke Olabanji street there is a popular street called Unity street by the conner.

What a peaceful neighborhood we have, one day I was coming back from school along Atinuke Olabanji street, I saw people running from no where to end of the street, what is happening? Oh they come to raid Kalakuta. yes, Kalakuta is the extension in front of the resident of the MAN called FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI, the police has come to pick him again,

Fela was a very peaceful man right there at Atinuke Olabanji street we have Fela,s resident and opposite the house is Kalakuta republic. One day a running water pipe got bust and there was a leakage, FELA came out that evening, he ordered that the pipe be fixed, you know what Fela’s Kalakuta republic, be came the public water supply, all the kids in the neighborhood come there to collect water. and it was like that for a long time.

Baba70 At 70

Fela Anikulapo Kuti,

Born in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938, was a singer-composer, trumpet, sax and keyboard player, bandleader, and politician. Kuti was one of Africa's most controversial musicians and throughout his life he continued to fight for the rights of the common man (and woman) despite vilification, harassment, and even imprisonment by the government of Nigeria.

Born to Yoruban parents, Kuti was strongly influenced by both parents, his mother being Funmilayo, a leading figure in the nationalist struggle. Practically all of his records are dominated by political events and discussions from the approach of Pan-Africanism.

In 1954, Kuti joined the Cool Cats as a singer in that highlife band (highlife being the rage of the Lagos music scene at the time). During this period Kuti developed his own unusual sound which he described as highlife-jazz. In 1968 Kuti announced the arrival of Afro-beat, within the year was promoting his sound all over the USA on a 10-month tour where he became influenced by American jazz. When he returned to his homeland he opened a nightclub, the Shrine, and changed the name of his band to Africa 70 (and later to Egypt 80).

His bands traditionally included the typical huge line-up consisting of many singers and dancers, numerous saxophonists, trumpeteers, drummers, percussionists, and of course, many guitarists blending African rhythms and jazz horn lines with politicized song lyrics. His music was intricate, rather than calling it Afro-beat you might more arguably consider it Afro-jazz. Entire recordings often consisted of just a few songs and this propensity for jamming set up a roadblock for Fela to attain commercial acceptance in the United States. He also abhored performing a song after recording it, and this led to audience disinterest in the U.S. where the people wanted their music to be recognizable hits.

Kuti continued his outspoken attacks on the Nigerian government. When the people returned to power in 1979, Kuti began his own political party - MOP (Movement of the People). The military returned to power in 1983 and within the year Kuti was sentenced to five years in prison on a spurious currency smuggling charge. He was released in 1986 after yet another change of government.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti died on Saturday, August 2, 1997, at 4pm (local time) in Lagos, Nigeria.
It had been rumoured for some time that Fela had a serious illness he was refusing treatment for, many said he was suffering from prostate cancer. But as it turns out, Fela died from complications due to AIDS. As Fela's brother, Olikoye Ransome Kuti, said at a news conference:
"The immediate cause of death of Fela was heart failure, but there were many complications arising from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome". Fela was a man with great influence in the African music world, he is irreplaceable and his presence will be sorely misssed.