Fela’s ex-drummer, Tony Allen is dead

Tony Allen, former drummer and composer for the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, is dead.

Allen died in Paris, France, on Thursday, aged 79.

He was the musical director of Fela Kuti’s band ”Africa ’70” and regarded as one of the founders of Afrobeat.

Fela once stated that “Without Tony, there would be no Afrobeat.” Brian Eno has also described him as “perhaps the greatest drummer who ever lived.”

In 2017, Fela’s son, Femi Kuti said to Rolling Stone: “There was no band like the Africa 70 and there is no drummer like Tony.”