Yeni Kuti: World lost iconic drummer in Tony Allen

Tony-Allen

Nigerian drummer, Tony Allen

Yeni Kuti
Yeni Kuti. Photo: Ayodele Efunla

Yeni Kuti, daughter of the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has said the music industry had lost one of its most iconic drummers with the death of legendary drummer, Tony Allen.

Kuti, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, described Allen, who died of a heart attack at the age of 79 in Paris on Thursday, as a fantastic drummer.

She said that the Nigerian up-and-coming drummers ought to learn from him, due to his mastery and wealth of knowledge in drumming.

Kuti said Allen’s death was shocking, and he would be greatly missed globally.

”Tony Allen’s death is a shocking one; the drumming world will miss him because he was really a rare gem.

”It is unfortunate that he is not here to teach the younger ones the discipline of drumming, as drumming takes lots of discipline, patience, and could be very exhausting.

”He came to Fela when he was very young, he benefited a lot for playing for Fela, and he worked with Fela for 14 years.

”May his soul rest in peace,” she said.

Allen was the former drummer and musical director of late Fela Kuti’s band in the 60s to the 70s.

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