Tony Oladipo Allen was born in Lagos in 1940. He taught himself to play the drums, taking inspiration from jazz drummers like , , and . In 1964 his life changed when he met Nigerian musician Met. Allen accompanied him for the next 15 years. Together they were at the cradle of the afrobeat, a combination of Yoruba rhythms and funk with revolutionary lyrics. This led to about 20 albums. In early
… 2017, he started preparations for The Source, according to his own words the best album he has ever made. Never before has he had so much musical freedom. He gathered around him a team of French jazz musicians, whose wind instruments in particular are very much influenced by the sound of New Orleans. This produces a peculiar, yet very effective combination. Powerfully rippling afrobeat combined with blazer explosions in a constant tight tension arc. The very first time in world history that the rivers Niger and Mississippi meet. (AD)more
