Femi Kuti, a multiple Grammy-nominated artist and son of late Afrobeats’ pioneer, Fela Kuti, has refuted the claims that the late legendary drummer, Tony Allen co-pioneered the genre with his father.
Allen is widely credited by both local and foreign media as a co-pioneer of Afrobeats for his works as Fela’s lead drummer and music director.
However, speaking in a recent video message shared via his social media page, Femi Kuti dismissed the claims, claiming that Allen or anyone didn’t contributed to Fela’s music.
He claimed that Fela taught Allen his style of drums just like his other instrumentalists.
Kuti said, “My father was a multi-instrumentalist and composer. He studied music. He knows every single part of his instrument. You probably have reas that they said he said, ‘Without Tony Allen, there is no Afrobeat.’ That is the biggest bullsh*t ever said about my father. It is such a big lie.
He asserted that Fela taught Allen his drumming style, similar to how he taught his other instrumentalists.
Kuti stated, “My dad was a composer and played multiple instruments. He pursued studies in music. He is familiar with every component of his instrument. It’s likely you’ve seen that they stated he remarked, ‘Without Tony Allen, there is no Afrobeat.’ That is the most outrageous nonsense anyone has ever said about my father. It is a huge lie.
While Fela was composing music, he would enter a trance state, making it impossible for anyone to contribute. All those in his vicinity must keep calm and pay attention to his arrangements and directives.
“Therefore, I inquired of those who claim that Fela acknowledged Allen for Afrobeat where this is found, and they are unable to provide it. No article, recording, or interview footage exists to substantiate this claim. It cannot be that Fela would make such a statement without there being a copy somewhere.
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