TheNewsGuru

Tag: AFROBEAT

  • My teachers hated me, because of Fela, says Femi Kuti

    My teachers hated me, because of Fela, says Femi Kuti

    Super musician and first son of Afrobeat pioneer, Femi Kuti has relieved his childhood experience during a recent interview where he opened up on his growing up while in school.

    The saxophonist and Afrobeat star disclosed that he suffered hatred from some of his school teachers who knew he was one of Fela’s children.

    Kuti said that while he expected to be treated fairly, some teachers would pass aggression on to him because of their dislike for Fela.

    “School was a very depressing time for me because you had the teachers that liked him and teachers that didn’t like him so if I get into trouble with the teachers that didn’t like Fela they would beat me more because they don’t like my father,” said Femi Kuti.

  • Akon rates Nigerian singer Wizkid in music space

    Akon rates Nigerian singer Wizkid in music space

    African-American singer Akon has rated Nigerian music sensation Wizkid as a born super star.

    Akon spoke on the massive movement and growth of the Afrobeats genre overtime during an interview with Sway Universe’s Sway Calloway and friends.

    He noted the Grammy Award winner was one of those few acts who just needed to drop one record still maintain a relevance all through the year.

    “Wizkid is just a super star. He’s one of those guys that put out one record a year and that record lasts the whole year. Like he’s just a born star without a doubt,” he stressed.

  • I was so reckless as a teenager – Femi Kuti

    I was so reckless as a teenager – Femi Kuti

    Afrobeat artiste, Femi Kuti has revealed how reckless how he was as a teenager that he thought that he’d die at a young age.

    The eldest son of legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, clocked 60 on June 16, 2022.

    In an interview with Goldmyne TV, Femi said he was surprised that he was still alive to celebrate his 60th birthday.

    He said: “I thought I would that I would die very young. I had a friend who would look at me and say, ‘this man will die’.

    “At the time, I had a bike so he be looking at like ‘this one, you’ll soon die’ because I was so reckless as a teenager.”

    “It’s an age where you just reflect on so many things in your life and you know, every moment is now precious with friends, family and your children. It’s an unbelievable age. I thought 50 was good but 60 is greater.”

  • I was quoted out of context -Femi Kuti reacts to reports of attack on Peter Obi

    I was quoted out of context -Femi Kuti reacts to reports of attack on Peter Obi

    Nigerian Afrobeat sensation, Femi Kuti has reacted to a trending report stating that he referred to supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as ‘zombies’.

    The report claimed that Kuti during his performance at the Afrika Shrine on Thursday, said: “How can you be Obidient in this chaos? I am not Obidient. Tell me, at 60, why am I Obidient? You said I should be Obidient, sit down, be peaceful. Are you all okay in this country?”

    But, reacting in a Twitter post on Friday, Femi Kuti said that his words were taken out of context.

    He noted that he does not like the term ‘Obidient’ but if Peter Obi wins and changes Nigeria, then it’s for the best of everyone.

    His tweet read: “You are such liars. Of what benefit is it to the people when you take my words out of context like this?

    “I said I am too angry at my age to be Obedient. Expressing I do not like the ‘term’. But if Peter Obi wins and actually changes the country, better for all of us.”

  • Afrobeat singer, Burna Boy dazzles, thrills fans in New York

    Afrobeat singer, Burna Boy dazzles, thrills fans in New York

    Afrobeat singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, thrilled music lovers in New York with an electrifying performance on Thursday night at the prestigious Madison Square Garden.

    The historic concert with the caption ‘One Night In Space’, has made Burna Boy the first Nigerian artiste to perform at the famous Madison Square Garden which has a seating capacity of more than 20, 000 people.

    NAN reports that music fans were in high spirits as the majority were dancing and singing with the artist.

    The supervisor of Guest Services at Madison Square Garden, Mr. Ken Gunser said the atmosphere of the performance was dazzling.

    “The people here seem to be happy, and they are in good mood,’’ he said.

    According to him, the show attracted no fewer than 31,000 persons while over 81,000 viewers were reported following his performance online.

    Burna Boy fans both, white and blacks, expressed delight about the stage performance of the artiste and praised his exceptional talent

    One of his fans said that one of the reasons he liked Burna Boy is his ability to keep his audience.

    “Since I have been following him, he has not changed his style and that is why I like him and I am here this night to watch the show,’’ he said.

    Also, a female fan revealed that Burna Boy’s music makes her happy, saying, “that is why I am here this night.’’

    Burna Boy had earlier in the day visited the United Nations Headquarters in New York, ahead of his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden.

    The ace singer who went in the company of his mother and manager, Bose Ogulu, met with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed, during the visit.

    Mohammed shared a picture of the visit on her Twitter page on Thursday morning, as she extolled the singer’s creativity.

    She wrote: “I had the opportunity to welcome my compatriot @burnaboy here at the @UN HQ.

    “Burna continues to inspire young people around the world with his amazing talents.”

    Burna Boy is an Afro-Fusion singer, whose iconic song “Twice As Tall”, which was released in August 2020, earned him his first Grammy award win.

    In February, the singer was named the first-ever African artiste to hit 200 million streams on music streaming platform, Boomplay.

  • BREAKING: Veteran Saxophonist, Orlando Julius dies at 79

    BREAKING: Veteran Saxophonist, Orlando Julius dies at 79

    Popular Nigerian Saxophonist, Orlando Julius has died at the age of 79.

    His wife, Latoya Ekemode, confirmed his death to newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

    She said that Orlando Julius passed out in his sleep on Thursday night.

    “Yes, my husband passed on late last night, there was no indication that death was coming, he was not ill, he only slept and died in his sleep,” she said.

    Newsmen reports that Orlando Julius, was a Nigerian saxophonist, singer, band leader, and songwriter closely associated with afrobeat music.

    Some of his musical albums were: Disco Hi-Life, Ololufe, Love, Peace and Happiness; Dance Afrobeat and more.

  • Just in: Fela’s Ex-drummer, Tony Allen, dies in France

    Just in: Fela’s Ex-drummer, Tony Allen, dies in France

    Former drummer, composer and songwriter of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony Allen, has passed away.

    Allen died in Paris, France, on Thursday.

    Born in 1940 in Lagos, Nigeria, Tony Allen began playing drums at age 18 while working as an engineer for a local radio station. He was influenced by Nigerian and Yoruba music such as juju and highlife, and in 1964 joined Fela Kuti’s highlife band, Koola Lobitos, earning praise from Kuti for his ability to combine sounds like highlife and jazz together.
    In 1969, Kuti renamed his band Africa 70, and their musical direction changed to a more militant and funk-heavy approach, defined by the shuffling rhythms of Allen’s drums.

    Allen recorded over 30 albums with Fela Kuti and Africa 70, including such acclaimed records as Zombie and Expensive Shit. At the end of the ’70s, Allen eventually left the group due to disagreements over royalties.

    Allen released a number of solo albums throughout his career, including 2017′s The Source, and recently released a posthumous collaboration with fellow African musical pioneer Hugh Masakela, Rejoice. Brian Eno once said that Allen was “perhaps the greatest drummer that’s ever lived.”

    Fela Kuti’s Expensive Shit and Zombie, both featuring Allen’s drumming, are on our list of the Top 150 Albums of the ’70s.

  • Europe is much more ready for Afrobeats- Tiwa Savage

     

    ‘Ma lo’ singer , Tiwa Savage has said Europe is much more ready for Afrobeats genre of music.

    Afrobeats , a blend of Afropop and other Nigerian music elements has gained wide acceptance in international music markets over the years.

    The sexy songstress who is preparing to headline her first concert at the Indigo O2 in London, UK said 60 percent of tickets have been sold for the event scheduled for August 24.

     

    “It’s exciting because I started my music in London so it’s a beautiful feeling to go back there and do my first headline show,” she said in an interview with Ebro Darden on Beats 1 radio.

     

    “We are already 60% sold out so I’m just super excited. I can’t wait to vibe with my London peeps.

     

    “I think for now Europe is much more ready for Afrobeat(s). We’re kind of focusing our energy on the UK and Europe.

     

    Savage who premiered her new song, ‘Lova Lova‘ which features Duncan Mighty on the radio show described the song as “basically a girl telling a guy ‘I’m willing to do everything. Whatever you need in the bedroom, in the kitchen…’ But at the end of the day don’t just see me the next day and act brand new like you don’t know who I am or what we’ve just been doing.”

     

  • Burna Boy blasts Nigerian pop stars, says “Only Fela does Afrobeat”

    Despite Nigeria’s pop stars experimenting with Afrobeats, Burna Boy has said the genre of music associated with the legendary Fela Kuti can only be done excellently by Fela.

    Over the years, the likes of Wizkid, Tekno, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Olamide have experimented with Afrobeats, paying tributes to Fela.

    Speaking in a recent interview with Radar Radio, the artiste corrected the show’s host who referred to him as the “King of this Afrobeat scene”.

    In his response, Burna said: “First of all, let me correct you, it’s not afro-beat for me, it’s Afro-fusion.

    As far as I’m concerned only Fela Kuti does Afrobeat”.

     

    Though foreign music critics often classify contemporary Nigerian pop music as Afrobeats, Nigerian music pundits are always quick to say Nigerian pop music isn’t made up of Afrobeats in its entirety.

     

    Immortalise Fela’s ideas to achieve a corrupt free society – Lumumba tells African leaders

     

  • Afropop is the future of Afrobeats- Seyi Shay

    It is quite obvious that Afrobeats is taking over the Nigerian music scene. These days it is almost impossible to listen to a Nigerian song without traces of Afrobeat being felt on the song.

     

    Nigerian melodious singer, Seyi Shay who has embraced Afrobeat in songs like Yolo has declared that Afrobeat is the future of Afrobeats.

     

    Speaking in a recent interview, she said:” I feel like Afropop is the future of Afrobeats. When it becomes more popular – when there’d be Afrobeats playing in everybody’s house around the world – you could call it Afropop. For now, it’s still Afrobeats: even though we’re getting there, we haven’t kicked all the doors down. Beat is the operative word. The beat is African ultimately, whether the style of music is dancehall, salsa, Latin, reggae. That’s where it all comes from. Afrobeat is the beat of Africa, that’s what it means.”

     

    When asked about her new song Your Matter in which she collaborates with Eugy, she said:”It’s about a girl being hooked on this particular guy’s wave, and vice versa – a sort of ‘new school’ type relationship

     

    “It’s definitely one of those when it seems as though you like a guy more than he likes you, you spend time with him but the he’s blasé about everything. At the same time, he’s trying to reassure you more with what he says than what he does.That’s where this comes from.”