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Nigeria

Femi Kuti Like father, like son. Femi's version of Afro-beat is the most exciting new sound to emerge from Nigeria for years, borrowing the best elements from his father's powerfully polyrhythmic prototype: a funky, jazzy, heavily percussive sound that took James Brown's beat back to Africa. Femi adds to that winning formula the freshness and exuberance of young Lagos and its taste for the new R&B and dance music of America and Europe.

Femi first rose to international prominence in 1985, when he appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, fronting Fela's band, Egypt 80. Fela had failed to make it onto the plane. Femi, already a member of his fathers band, came to the rescue that night, giving a show that brought the audience at the packed Bowl to its feet. Even though the fans had paid to see and hear the charismatic Fela, Femi was able to fully satisfy them with the same rude, muscular sax style (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone) and lean self-confidence bordering on arrogance.

Two years later, Femi had formed his own young band, The Positive Force, and released their debut album. He has since carried out numerous extensive European tours with critics inevitably but favourably comparing the big band sound of the sixteen member group with Fela's legendary Egypt 80.

The son of a tiger is a tiger himself.

CD: Day By Day [ Wrasse Rec / Harmonia Mundi 2008]

 

"Kuti is a master of dynamics. Each song shifted repeatedly between smooth and punchy, triggering a new burst of dancing with every change." [New York Times, 2009]