Showbiz
Remembering Legendary Nigerian Drummer Tony Allen
By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Exactly in August 2009, legendary Nigerian drummer, Tony Allen, who created the Afrobeat along with his old bandmate, Fela Kuti, and I had our first historical meeting in Paris, France.
I had flown in from Shanghai, China, to meet with him for an informal encounter. Despite our heavy working schedules and limited time, the meeting lasted for about two hours.
During the discussions, I asked him several questions about his professional musical career and life. In fact, he was extremely passionate and enthusiastic talking with me, and to remember him here are a few excerpts:
When did you begin your musical career and who are your favourite musicians?
My career started at the age of 20. In fact, I was hired by Sir Victor Olaiya to play claves with his highlife band, “the Cool Cats” and was able to fill the drum-set chair when the former Cool Cats drummer left the band. I also played with Agu Norris and the Heatwaves, the Nigerian Messengers and the Melody Makers.
In 1964, I joined Fela’s ‘Koola Lobitos’ and stayed with Fela for 15 years. When I was learning to play, I’d check out LPs and magazine tutorials by Gene Krupa, Art Blakey and Max Roach, Guy Warren was also an influence. Of course, I was also a fan of Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and Bernard Purdie.
I was asked to name my dream band to play with, and I chose: Oumou Sangare and Salif Keita on vocals, Bootsy Collins on bass, George Benson on guitar, Wayne Shorter on sax, Joe Zawinul on keys, Don Cherry on trumpet, and with a line-up like that, I’d have to be the drummer!
What was the motivation behind your chosen profession?
My parents were…not keen. Back then, musicians were more or less thought of as beggars, or worse. But I just put it in front of them. I was an electrical technician, but I wanted to make a change. My mother was never happy about it, but my father, who was an amateur musician, eventually agreed.
How is this profession influencing or shaping your own social life?
It has had a profound effect. Our albums with Afrika 70 either provoked or described a series of increasingly brutal attacks by the Nigerian army and police. Fela and his immediate family bore the brunt of this long and shameful catalogue of assaults, trumped up charges and jailings, and I myself was jailed on one occasion. With Fela, it was like being at university, and you don’t run away from education. We learnt so much by not being cowards.
When I left Fela’s band, that had a big effect on my life. Lagos was too small for me and Fela. It was a small place, and I wanted room to take off without causing competition, I eventually chose Paris partly because the British immigration people were giving me difficulties, but also because African music was more happening then in Paris than in London, and my record company at the time was in France.
It was the only place I felt I could exercise my knowledge. The only place to make a living. Being a musician, the line between work and social life is, often blurred doing what I do for a living is what I do for enjoyment.
There seems to be some truthfulness in your career. Which songs spiritually appeal most to you personally when on stage?
Absolutely, as a musician and an artist, you have to be true to yourself. Different songs appeal to me more at different times and under different circumstances, it can depend on who you’re playing with, where you’re playing and how the audience respond to what you’re playing. Playing music is very spiritual but I won’t say that one thing I do is more spiritual than another as I try to invest all in everything that I do.
Of what importance are the messages you convey through your songs to our society, in your interpretation?
Afrobeat has always been about the struggle, then and now. Fela was right about everything, especially the messages in all his songs. Everything he sang about is still happening. Nigeria’s not getting any better. It’s all misadministration and corruption, survival of the fittest.
Lagos is a complete mother ****** of a place. These messages we send to the government, they never listen to them. The people wait for an effect, but there’s no effect. These guys do nothing. Afrobeat is rebellious music. We have to keep shouting.
Do you mind talking about your experiences (both positive and negative) in previous European tours?
Laughs! I don’t mind at all but this is a big question that I’m not sure how to answer. The fact is that the good experiences overwhelmingly outweigh the bad, which is why I’m still out on tour at nearly 70 years old. As long as people want to come and see me play, I’ll play.
How do you usually visualize your audience during musical performances?
I am very pleased to have had the chance to play at many festivals abroad. The foreign people know all about social and political upheaval, so even though our cultures and heritage are completely different, they feel the power of Afrobeat and confirm my belief that music is the great healer in the world. It was a long musical trip, there is no way back but well worth it. You just don’t have to return, I have to move forward!
Many people think going into musical world is just to make quick money. What is your reaction to this?
Ha! Most musicians are struggling musicians only a small minority make serious money, musicians all around the world play for the love of it, to express themselves creatively and for the interaction with the audience. A lucky few might make millions but you can’t judge everyone else on that basis, lawyers, accountants, bankers, those guys make the serious money. Also, those motivated by money don’t make as good music, if your inspiration isn’t true, then it shines through in music.
Would you have opted out of stage if you were offered an alternative job?
Not all, as I said earlier, I had job which I left in order to be a musician, that was almost 50 years ago and I am still in it. I think I made the right decision.
If you could have lunch with anyone, real or fictional, alive or dead, who would it be and what is the first thing you would ask him or her?
It’s impossible to pick one single person, there are loved ones that would be great to see one more time, but musically, the most obvious person would be Fela Kuti, and I’d ask him if he’s happy with what’s happened to the music that we created together.
What are your goals for the coming years?
I want to keep on doing what I do, improving and doing new things. I’m very happy with my band and our new album, we can do great things together. I’m very fortunate that I get the opportunities to work with all manner of artists doing different and interesting projects, long may it continue.
Music is my mission. I never get satisfied and I’m still learning from others. The musical world is very spiritual, and I don’t think there’s an end to it. The best legacy is your professional work and leaving an indelible mark on the minds of people.
Additional information
Agence France Press (AFP) wrote that Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti’s band Africa ‘70 in the 1960s and 1970s.
During that time, the pair created afrobeat, combining West African musical styles such as highlife and Fuji music with American imports jazz and funk. Afrobeat went on to become one of the totemic genres of 20th century African music.
Over Allen’s thrilling beat, Fela laid out his revolutionary and pan-African message, which led him to become one of the abiding icons of the struggle for freedom across the continent.
Allen and Fela recorded around 40 albums together in Africa ‘70, before parting ways after a mythic 26-year collaboration. Such was the hole that Allen left in his band, Fela needed four drummers to replace him.
Allen taught himself to play drums from the age of 18, drawing inspiration from American jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker as well as contemporary African music. He remained hugely influential and beloved by generations of musicians.
British musician and producer Brian Eno has called Allen “perhaps the greatest drummer who ever lived.” Allen was the drummer in the supergroup The Good, the Bad & the Queen, also featuring Blur singer Damon Albarn and The Clash bassist Paul Simonon, which released its second album in 2018.
Tony Allen died suddenly at the age of 79 in the Paris suburb Courbevoie, France.
In a world where men are expected to have it all figured out, be strong, provide, and never fall apart, Stripped shows the reality that many don’t talk about.
A new drama series premiered on Africa Magic Showcase on Sunday. The limited series brings together a strong lineup of Nollywood stars, including Daniel Etim Effiong, Efa Iwara, Kunle Remi, Ian Wordi, and Mofe Duncan, in a story that dives deep into the pressures men face behind closed doors.
Stripped follows five friends whose lives are slowly unravelling. From career setbacks to relationship struggles and financial pressure, each man is pushed to the edge in different ways. In a desperate attempt to regain control, they take an unexpected path, stepping into the world of stripping at an upscale club.
Daniel Etim Effiong plays Kel, a former marketing executive now juggling survival and responsibility, while Mofe Duncan (Bolaji) battles to keep his business afloat. Efa Iwara stars as a music video director forced to confront a complicated personal life, Ian Wordi plays a conflicted architect, and a youth pastor caught between duty and desire, while Kunle Remi brings to life a determined hustler trying to rewrite his family’s story.
Their lives intersect when they are recruited by Yvonne, a sharp and calculated lounge owner, who introduces them to a world that challenges everything they thought they knew about themselves.
This series explores identity, pride, friendship, and the silent expectations placed on men. It also shines a light on the emotional weight many carry without saying a word, both vulnerability and moments of humour along the way.
With a strong supporting cast of equally complex female characters, the story unfolds across six episodes, building tension as secrets deepen and relationships are tested.
Watch Stripped on Africa Magic Showcase, available on GOtv Channel 8, with new episodes every Sunday at 8 PM.
To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
As the countdown to the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) draws closer, fans across Africa still have a chance to do more than just watch, they can decide.
Voting is officially in its final days, and this is the moment for audiences to show up for their favourite actors, filmmakers, and stories that have made an impact over the past year.
The AMVCA has always stood out as an award platform that gives viewers a choice, allowing fans directly influence who takes home some of the biggest honours on the night. From standout performances to fan-favourite productions, every vote contributes to shaping the final outcome.
Voting is quick, simple, and free. You can cast your vote via the official AMVCA website or through the myDStv and myGOtv apps. Simply log in or create an account, select your favourites across the categories, and submit. You can also vote multiple times across these platforms to increase your support.
Voting for AMVCA 12 closes on April 26, 2026, at 9:00 PM WAT, and once that window closes, that’s it, no extra time and no second chances.
A lot of people wait until the last minute and either forget or run into issues trying to vote at the same time as everyone else. It’s always better to get it done early.
The awards night will come, the winners will be announced, and conversations will happen again, but between now and then is the only time you actually get to influence the outcome.
So if there’s someone you’re rooting for, or a project you genuinely believe deserves it, this is the time to show up.
Don’t just watch how it plays out. Be part of the reason it plays out that way.
For many aspiring filmmakers, the ultimate culmination of their cinematic dreams is to be able to live through the art form they love.
Filmmakers don’t just want to make a film. They want to build a career doing it. To achieve that, they need training that equips them with industry-relevant skills of the highest standard.
For the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), this understanding is integral to all of its programmes. Academy graduates are equipped with the precise skills required by their industry, empowering them to become prime-time TV professionals.
Since MTF is a MultiChoice initiative, its three academies – in Lusaka, Nairobi and Lagos – provide training in the specific, high-demand technical skills needed by the industry-leading content producer.
MultiChoice, a Canal+ company, is the largest producer of authentic, original content on the African continent. “Africa’s most-loved storyteller” produced 5 340 hours of world-class local content in 2025.
MTF students are trained to these exacting MultiChoice standards. This leaves them well placed to excel in the industry once they graduate.
And excel, they do. MTF graduates speak with pride of the success they have found since leaving the highly respected hub of African film and television training.
Technical skills
Actor, producer, writer and storyteller Myde Glover went on from MTF West Africa Academy to host film festivals and win Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs).
He credits much of his success to the storytelling skills he learned at MTF, as well as the technical standards the MTF Academy sets.
“The storytelling skills I gained at MTF helped me become a better actor, producer and director. It helps me put the story first,” he says. “However, I was also taught the technical and delivery requirements for submitting projects to platforms like DStv, GOtv, and Showmax. I approach every project with those standards in mind, understanding that quality matters in every aspect.”
Glover says the three most important things for aspiring filmmakers to remember are teamwork, being open to constructive criticism, and staying focused on their goal.
“Strong collaboration improves the quality of any production, feedback helps you grow creatively, and focus ensures you see projects through without losing sight of why you started,” he says.
Lifetime network
Graduating from MTF provides filmmakers with a network that can last a lifetime. Alumni often hire each other as they evolve through their working lives, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of skilled professionals.
Bahati Kajigi Benjamin from DRC found that MTF gave him the network he needed to tell stories close to his heart.
“My experience with MTF was incredible,” says Benjamin. “I formed a family with my fellow students, and we bonded deeply. We collaborated on numerous films and wrote one that is particularly meaningful to me, illustrating the struggles of my people.”
That film was titled The Canvas, a Zee World project.
Benjamin currently works as a camera operator and editor at Sauti Media Hub in Uganda, producing Kampala Creme, one of the top East African reality shows. He says he secured the position through a recommendation from a fellow MTF alumnus.
Benjamin says his time at MTF was invaluable in honing his skills in cinematography and colour grading.
“I gained extensive knowledge about camera techniques, lighting, and colour harmony in film, which I am currently applying in my role at Kampala Creme.
Benjamin appreciates the importance of paying opportunities forward. He recently shared his cinematography expertise on a three-month online platform called Film Chat, aimed at empowering up-and-coming African creatives.
His advice to young creatives is to never overlook the importance of marketing themselves, and to remember that filmmaking is a business.
“Funders want to understand more than just the script or story,” he says. “You should spend time discussing the financial aspects and the impact the film will create. This is what appeals to investors. Ultimately, it’s an investment for a return.”
Career transformation
MTF West Africa graduate Allen Onyige pursued his passion for human behaviour and storytelling at MTF after leaving university and working in live broadcasting. He describes his time at MTF West Africa as “transformative”.
“MTF refined my creative vision, strengthened my technical skills, and played a pivotal role in shaping my journey as a filmmaker,” he says. “The experience changed my life and set me on the path toward meaningful visual storytelling.”
He says understanding the business side of broadcasting was just as important as the creative skills he gained.
After he left MTF, his production company was commissioned by Africa Magic to produce several series and feature films, including Ikenna’s Trial, Sikiru, Elenini, Kadara, and Dear Future Me.
In 2024, Onyige won the Best Indigenous Language Series award at the AMVCAs for Irora Iya. He also served as director of photography on Grind, now on Amazon Prime. His documentary Sunset in Makoko was nominated for Best Documentary at the AMVCAs. He also worked as a cinematographer on the Emmy Award–winning documentary Mothers of Chibok.
Onyige says young people looking to build a career in film and TV should first look to learn the craft and business of filmmaking, but to master one specific skill. Secondly, he recommends being a team player who sets high standards.
“Be a man or a woman of excellence,” he says. “Integrity will get you jobs that talent alone may not be able to give you.”
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To learn more about the MultiChoice Talent Factory and how to launch a career in African film and television, visit https://
multichoicetalentfactory.com -
Applications for the 2027 intake are still open, and the closing date is 27 May 2026.
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