Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti brought his political savvy, activist philosophy, multi-instrument-playing musicianship, support of the common-man touch, and intoxicating revelry back to New York City with an East Coast stop on his global tour.
DJ Funmi Ononaiye kept beats flowing at Times Square’s Sony Hall on Thursday, Sept. 15, as an excited crowd awaited the Grammy-nominated “youngest son of legendary Afrobeat godfather Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.” While Afrobeat is suddenly the new populist phenomenon for some, Highlife, Afro Juju and indeed Afrobeat have been beloved genres for decades throughout the African Diaspora and on the Continent.
“The message of Afrobeat music is the counter of that narrative: the pro-Black, pro-people, pro-Motherland narrative from our own perspective,” the African Soldier previously told NPR. His 2018 track “Black Times” might just be his personal anthem. It says it all after all. “The time they teach us about Black protection…The time they teach us about Black reflection of the Black Times.” A timeless track, and always a fan favorite.
As parts of the planet were focused on the passing of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, and the subsequent Commonwealth reparations demand, in one of his bountiful tangents, the always analytical “Opposite People” performer told his audience that as “the world is finding its path towards civilization….there is normal racism….the banks, the police, education, housing…And then we have royal racism.”