By AFPMore by this AuthorParis,Legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, who created afrobeat along with his old bandmate Fela Kuti, died suddenly at the age of 79 in Paris on Thursday, his manager told AFP. Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 in the 1960s and 1970s. During that time the pair created afrobeat, combining West African musical styles such as highlife and fuji music with American imports jazz and funk. Allen and Fela recorded around 40 albums together in Africa '70, before parting ways after a mythic 26-year collaboration. British musician and producer Brian Eno has called Allen "perhaps the greatest drummer who ever lived".

Source: Daily Nation May 01, 2020 03:33 UTC