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Africa 70
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Africa 70 was the band of the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, the founder of Afrobeat. Kuti began in London, where in the 1960s he studied music and played a mix of jazz and highlife with Koola Lobitos. In 1969 he went with the group to Los Angeles for ten months. There he came into contact with the Black Power movement, which changed his music and his thinking profoundly. After the return to Nigeria the band was given the name Africa '70, and the lyrics were no longer about love but about social problems. Drummer and musical director was Tony Allen.
Music and breakthrough
The group recorded dozens of records in the 1970s, such as Shakara in 1972, Gentleman in 1973, Confusion in 1974 and Zombie in 1976. Kuti founded the Kalakuta Republic, a commune and studio that declared itself independent of the military government. Zombie sharply criticised the Nigerian soldiers. The army then raided the commune. Kuti was badly beaten and his mother was fatally injured.
Influence
Afrobeat combines jazz, funk, highlife and Yoruba music, with long tracks and a fixed rhythmic foundation. Allen's drumming was of great importance in this. The music of Africa 70 showed that pop music could also be a political weapon, and it influenced many later musicians in and outside Africa.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1971Na Poi
- 1971Open & Close
- 1971Why Black Man Dey Suffer
- 1972Roforofo Fight
- 1972Shakara
- 1973Afrodisiac
- 1973Gentleman
- 1974Alagbon Close
- 1974Confusion
- 1975Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana
- 1975Everything Scatter
- 1975He Miss Road
- 1975Jealousy
- 1975Noise for Vendor Mouth
- 1976Excuse O
- 1976Ikoyi Blindness
- 1976Kalakuta Show
- 1976No Bread
- 1976Up Side Down
- 1976Yellow Fever
- 1976Zombie
- 1977Fear Not for Man
- 1977No Agreement
- 1977Opposite People
- 1977Progress
- 1977Sorrow Tears and Blood
- 1977Stalemate
- 1978Shuffering and Shmiling
- 1979International Thief Thief (I.T.T.)
- 1979No Accommodation for Lagos
- 1979Unknown Soldier
- 1980Authority Stealing
- 1981Coffin for Head of State
- 1986I Go Shout Plenty!!!
- 2004Mr. Bigmouth / Low Profile
Mentioned in other articles
- Afrobeat Genre
With his band Africa 70 and the drummer Tony Allen he played long tracks of ten minutes and more, with repeated guitar patterns, horns and a driving rhythm.