Grammy-nominated Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti has once again disputed claims that legendary drummer Tony Allen played a significant role in the creation of Afrobeat alongside his late father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
In a recent interview, Femi Kuti vehemently rejected the idea that Tony Allen was instrumental in shaping the Afrobeat sound, calling it “the biggest lie ever told against his father.”
He elaborated on his stance, insisting that while Tony Allen was undoubtedly a talented drummer, it was Fela who taught him his distinctive drumming style. “Yes, he was a good drummer, but Fela taught him his style of drums.
Fela gave him all his drum patterns,” Femi Kuti explained, offering a personal insight into the creative relationship between his father and Allen.
Femi recalled watching his father closely during the formative years of Afrobeat, both as a child and as a teenager, and witnessed firsthand how Fela meticulously crafted the music.
“I saw my father structure the drums and sounds of Afrobeat. I was right there when he did it, and I know what I’m talking about,” Femi said, underscoring his deep connection to the history of the genre.
According to Femi, Fela’s creative process was very methodical. Fela would assemble the rhythm section—drummer, percussionist, and guitarists—before spending a week rehearsing with them to get the sound just right.
Only then would he bring in the singers and additional instruments to complete the composition. This structure, Femi Kuti believes, was pivotal in the creation of Afrobeat, and Tony Allen’s involvement was not as central as some might suggest.
In fact, Femi Kuti has had to address similar claims in the past, notably in 2027 when he was forced to respond to an American journalist who insisted that Tony Allen had co-created Afrobeats with his father.
This was not the first time that such accusations had surfaced, and Femi has consistently defended his father’s role as the singular force behind Afrobeat’s creation.
“There’s no credible source that quotes Fela Kuti crediting Tony Allen with creating Afrobeat,” Femi Kuti asserted in the interview, firmly rejecting any notion that his father shared authorship of the genre with his drummer.
Further reinforcing his point, Femi Kuti pointed to Fela Kuti’s most well-known biography, The Bitch of A Life by Carlos Moore, which, according to Femi, makes no mention of Tony Allen’s contribution to the creation of Afrobeat.
“In Fela’s biography, there’s no mention of Tony Allen in relation to the creation of Afrobeat,” Femi noted, implying that the historical record of his father’s life does not support the claims being made by those suggesting Allen’s co-creation.
This omission, Femi believes, speaks volumes about the accuracy of the narrative being presented.
Femi also emphasized the personal and emotional connection he had to the struggles his father faced, particularly the persecution he endured at the hands of Nigeria’s military government.
“Nobody can tell us about Fela because we were there,” Femi declared, his voice heavy with the weight of his experiences. “We saw the beatings, the imprisonment.”
This statement was a reminder of the personal sacrifices Fela made in his fight for social justice and freedom of expression, as well as a reflection of the intimate knowledge Femi has of his father’s life and legacy.
In his discussion, Femi Kuti also highlighted Fela’s role as a sound engineer who played an active part in assisting Tony Allen with arranging his compositions.
While Allen was undeniably a key figure in Fela’s band and contributed to many of Fela’s recordings, Femi’s perspective emphasizes that Fela was a driving force in the creative process, not simply a passive collaborator.
“Fela was a sound engineer who assisted Tony Allen in putting together his compositions,” Femi stated, asserting that Fela’s technical prowess was integral to the creation of the iconic sound that would come to define Afrobeat.
Tony Allen, who was part of over 30 albums recorded with Fela, remains an iconic figure in his own right, and his contributions to Afrobeat are acknowledged and celebrated.
However, Femi Kuti’s statements serve as a powerful reminder of the foundational role Fela played in shaping the genre.
While Tony Allen’s drumming style has left an indelible mark on the music, Femi insists that it was Fela’s vision, leadership, and artistry that defined Afrobeat as a genre, solidifying his father’s legacy as its true creator.
