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Afrobeat legend performs at exclusive art exhibition
20th May 2009. Posted by Luke McNaney.
"Tony Allen is probably the most important musician of the past 50 years." Brian Eno
Pioneering Afrobeat musician Tony Allen will perform at the London launch of BASS Festival 2009, kicking off the festival’s month-long celebration of Africa.
Allen’s appearance will coincide with the opening of an exclusive art exhibition that documents the work of Ghariokwu Lemi, best-known for designing 2000 album sleeves, including nearly 30 for iconic Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.
Allen, the former musical director and drummer in Fela Kuti’s band, will appear alongside other celebrated African musicians on Tuesday 9 June at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, London.
Fela Kuti once stated that “without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat”. His unique drumming style, which incorporates all four limbs, helped shape the funky rhythms that defined the genre.
Since his influential work in the 70s, Allen has established himself as an artist in his own right, recording and touring with his own band as well as collaborating with acclaimed contemporary musicians such as Sébastian Tellier, Air, Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn’s The Good, the Bad and the Queen.
Allen’s performance at BASS precedes the release of his new album ‘Secret Agent’, released in June 2009. Joining him on the night and also performing will be Fela Kuti keyboard player Dele Sosimi, singer/dancer Wunmi and hip hop DJ Rich Medina. Lemi will also be appearing to curate the launch of the exhibition.
BASS has the UK rights to ‘Art’s Own Kind’, the first showing of Lemi’s work in England for five years. The exhibition brings together some of his most infamous designs to show how creative and repressive moments in the 1970s bore the Afrobeat phenomenon.
Running for its fourth consecutive year, BASS (British Arts and Street Sounds) 2009 will be celebrating the influence of Africa and Africans throughout June. The month long celebration of urban music and art will play host to live music, theatre and dance performances, exhibitions and master classes.
The ‘Art’s Own Kind’ launch will take place on 9 June at Rich Mix, Shoreditch, London. Entry is free and from 7.30pm onwards.
For more information on BASS Festival, including full line-up details, please visit www.bassfestival.co.uk.