2nd May, 2020
Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti has penned a tribute to Tony Allen, world renowned drummer who co-founded afrobeats with his father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Allen died in Paris on Friday 30 April.
Tony Allen was part of Fela Kuti‘s Africa 70 band and made many albums with Fela.
Among them were hits such as Gentleman (1973), Expensive Shit (1975), and Zombie (1976).
Fela Kuti once famously said, “Without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat.”
Tony Allen passed away on April 30th at the age of 79 years but according to his manager, the cause of his death is yet to be known.
“We don’t know the exact cause of death,” his manager Eric Trosset told France 24. “He was in great shape; it was quite sudden. I spoke to him at 1 p.m., then two hours later he was sick and taken to Pompidou hospital where he died.”
In an emotional tribute, Seun kuti wrote on his Instagram:
“Waking up to the most disastrous news. First Uncle Manu now Uncle Tony. These 2 men played together with me in my coming out concert in Dakar in 2004. Uncle Tony was always available to me and even though we had our differences, there was never anything but love and respect.
“Uncle Tony was an enigma. A pure artist and fierce competitor (in his own way)! I love and miss u baba. Rest In Peace. #getthesax.”