“Mariama”, a programme with African music. Today: Tony Allen.
Tony Allen drummed for Fela Kuti from 1964 until 1978. In that 14 years "Afro Beat" was developed, a mix of influences from Soul, Highlife, Jazz and traditional music. That "Afro Beat" became the means for Fela Kuti’s verbal attacks against the military regime in Nigeria. Tony Allen, also called Ladi Alabi at the time, was invariably mentioned as the "leader/drummer" on the cover of the ‘Africa 70’ band of Fela Kuti.
Tony Allen is largely responsible for the development of the typical drum style that forms the base of the "Afro Beat": a dragging style with a beautiful drum technique in combination with the base drum.
In this Mariama some highlights from more recent albums of Tony Allen: Home Cooking, (Afro Beat with rap influences, 2002), Psycho on da bus, a CD that Tony made with Doctor L, Jean Phi Diary, Jeff Kelner and Cesar Anot, with on it more psychedelic influences (2006), and the beautiful album Lagos No Shaking (free translation: ‘Lagos is OK’ from 2006.
