Former
drummer, composer and songwriter of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony
Allen, has passed away.
Allen died in Paris, France, on Thursday. He was born
in Lagos in 1940 and was regarded as one of the founders of Afrobeat.
Fela once stated that, “Without Tony Allen, there would
be no Afrobeat.”
He was the musical director of Fela Kuti’s band ”Africa ’70” and regarded as one of the founders of Afrobeat.
Fela once stated that “Without Tony, there would be no Afrobeat.” Brian Eno has also described him as “perhaps the greatest drummer who ever lived.”
In 2017, Fela’s son, Femi Kuti said to Rolling Stone: “There was no band like the Africa 70 and there is no drummer like Tony.”
Allen has also been described by Brian Eno as “perhaps the greatest drummer who ever lived”.