Next Tuesday, October 15, would have been Fela Kuti’s 75th birthday. The Nigeria-born Fela was a responsible for bringing Afrobeat—and world music in general—into the Western world. And though he passed away in 1997, his legacy still stretches across the globe.
On 17th May 2013 Factory78 had exclusive backstage access to the SaluteThe Black President concert - celebrating the music of the legendary Fela Kuti.
Held at the 229 Club, Great Portland Street in London, the concert featured a number of artists who worked with Fela, including Cream/Blind Faith drummer and Fela collaborator Ginger Baker, afrobeat percussion pioneer and Fela's drummer Tony Allen, Fela's keyboardist Dele Sosimi, plus a crop of Fela-inspired acts like Afrikan Boy, Keziah Jones, Shingai Shoniwa, TY, Blak Twang, BREIS, Terri Walker, KOF and Bumi Thomas.
All the performers offered their interpretations of Fela songs aided by the backing grooves of Dele Sosimi and his Afrobeat Orchestra. Factory78 soaked up the atmosphere and got the lowdown on what Afrobeat means to the new generation as well as those that lived it.
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