Seun Kuti Egypt 80
When it comes to Afrobeat, expectations are high when your last name is Kuti. With the grace, energy and strength of his father, Seun Kuti leads the legendary Fela Kuti’s band, Egypt 80 on stage at The Drum on Saturday 4th October, 2008 – doors open at 9PM. Representing the most original incarnation of Afrobeat today, the talented Seun Kuti will pay tribute to his father’s legacy and perform his own compositions backed by the Egypt 80’s band, complete with original line-up. The youngest son of Nigerian world music icon Fela Kuti makes his Birmingham debut performing tracks from his new album ‘Many Things’. When his Father died in 1997, the world was temporarily left without his pioneering Nigerian funk sounds until lead vocalist/saxophonist Seun Kuti took the helm of the legendary Egypt 80, the band his father had forged into one of Africa’s most exciting ensembles. Seun continues to propel the sounds and rhythms of Afrobeat – a pungent blend of funk and jazz with a Nigerian sensibility, reminiscent of James Brown but grittier – with socially conscious lyrics. Egypt 80 is as explosive as it was under Fela, combining horns, keyboards, percussion, guitars and vocals in an overpowering perfect blend that is infectious!
“I didn’t want to focus on specific Nigerian issues only. ‘African Problem’ is about the issues that all Africans face in common. And ‘Mosquito Song’ is about malaria, which people all over Africa can relate to. I was shocked that there is a cheap, preventable cure—why should poverty prevent this? It’s the same kind of problems that my father confronted: corruption, greed and ignorance.”
SEUN KUTI
With soulful voices, a solid brass section and incomparable African percussion groove expect a high-energy, spectacular show. Newstyle’s DJ Ade kicks off the night with his lively energetic sounds. Tickets are £16 in advance and £20 on the door, book early as this will be a sell-out! Call box-office on 0121 333 2444 or book online at www.the-drum.org.uk
MEDIA CONTACT: Sati Parmar on 0121 333 2404 or e-mail: s.parmar@the-drum.org.uk.
‘MANY THINGS’ Album – released 2008
Many Things reflects Seun’s unbridled confidence in his roots— the album’s seven tracks are full of the kind of intense, eight minute polyrhythmic groove-a-thons that were Fela’s specialty. Tracks like ‘Na Oil,’ ‘African Problem’ and ‘Don’t Give That Shit To Me’ are issue driven tracks that could be taken from any Fela album, while ‘Fire Dance’ is a contemporary dance floor-filler with a funky, addictive backbeat.
