Femi Kuti and The Positive Force

Starting out in his father’s band, it was clear that the eldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti was always going to find his own voice. Setting up his own band The Positive Force in 1985, Femi Kuti went on to make some of the most energetic, colourful, politically charged music to come out of Africa. Whilst albums such as Shoki Shoki (1998) and Day By Day (2008) took on the afrobeat sound of his father’s legacy, he also dabbled in a contemporary urban sound, collaborating with artists such as Common, Mos Def and Jaguar Wright on 2001 release Fight To Win.

His true talent, though, shines through in his live performances. 2004 album Live at the Shrine - recorded in the heat of the moment at his African venue The Shrine - established himself as a live tour de force, the combination of his saxophone skills, amazingly agile, powerful voice and infectious energy and rhythm simultaneously conjuring up Africa’s past and future.

His powerful new album Africa For Africa, released this month, was recorded amidst a frantic host of appearances and projects, all excitingly bringing Afrobeat - and Femi’s strong political and social message - ever closer to the public eye. As well as opening the main stage at the 50th Glastonbury, he performed Beng Beng Beng at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Johannesburg. Shortly after, he was invited onstage by the actors during a performance of Fela!, the Broadway musical celebrating the controversial life of his father, co-produced by Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, and set to open in London this month.

Support comes from ]Captain Slackship’s Mezzanine Allstars.