Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, previously Ransome-Kuti, was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, in 1938. His family belonged to the Egba branch of the Yoruba tribe. His father, like…
Artist Profiles: Fela Kuti
Tag: Afrobeat
Artist Profiles: Kiala Nzavotunga
Afrobeat master Kiala Nzavotunga is a founding member of the band Ghetto Blaster (1984 – 2006) and Fela Kuti’s band. Kiala Nzavotunga was born in…
An Afro-Roots Experiment That Worked
Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra (Glitterbeat, 2016) Nigerian Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen recorded a set of jams rooted in Afro-rooted rhythms from Africa and Haiti that appear…
Global Songs about Miami Characters
Multi-ethnic band The Baboons is based in Miami and has absorbed many of the musical influences that characterize the most Latin American of US cities.…
Afrobeat Melting Pot
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble – It’s Time (Slow Walk Music, 2015) It’s Time is the new album by Spain-based Afrobeat band Alma Afrobeat Ensemble. The group…
The Best of Spanish Reggae at Siroco in Madrid
The legendary Siroco club in Madrid will present a reggae music special on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 21:00 (9:00 p.m.). The lineup includes Blueskank…
Don’t Nix the Mix
Seems like a clear majority of releases coming my way nowadays are some kind of fusion music. It hasn’t been easy tearing myself away from…
Lineup for London’s La Linea 2016 Festival
The artists scheduled to perform in 2016 La Linea Festival, London’s annual Latin music fest, include: Sunday 24 April at Koko Criolo, One of Brazil’s…
Buika with a Caribbean Seasoning
Buika Vivir sin miedo (DRO/Warner Music Spain/Warner Music Latina, 2015) Afro-Spanish Spanish singer-songwriter and composer Buika developed Vivir sin miedo (To Live without Fear) in…
The Infectious Songs of Ghanaian Afrobeat
Various Artists Return Flight to Ghana 1974-1983 – Afrobeat Airways 2 (Analog Africa, 2013) Although many associate afrobeat primarily with Nigeria, Ghana was another afrobeat…