Fela Kuti & Afrika 70

The Profile

Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 was the 1970s Nigerian afrobeat ensemble led by Fela Kuti with drummer Tony Allen. Renowned for long, polyrhythmic grooves and politically charged songs, the group released landmark albums including Gentleman, Expensive Shit, and Zombie.

Fela Kuti is credited as the inventor of afrobeat; Tony Allen was the pivotal drummer. Afrika 70 favored long suites per album side, with rhythm-forward arrangements, funk-derived horns, and lyrics addressing social issues and Pan-Africanism.

Two reviews celebrate Fela Kuti & Afrika 70’s 1970s afrobeat: long, percussive suites, socially charged lyrics, and Tony Allen’s defining rhythms. Gentleman is hailed as a period masterpiece; Expensive Shit bristles with jazz-funk propulsion and political bite. The groove is central, with horns and keys orbiting the drums.