Earlier this week, I came across sad news. Tony Allen, the legendary pioneer of afro-beat has passed away. He was a drummer as well as musical director of Fela Kuti Band and one of the masterminds and a pioneer of Afrobeat music genre. Fela Kuti himself once said that Afrobeat music would not exist without Tony Allen. Surely it would not be an understatement if one said, that he was one of the best of drummers of all times.
Back in February in 2018, I had a chance to meet Tony on a personal level and not just as a photo pit photographer and I do remember him being very chilled and down to earth person. We had a small chit-chat in the backstage. He allowed me to take a few candid shots of him before his performance.
On stage, together with his band, he drifted the audience into the levitating state. Throughout the concert, they played a fusion of jazz and afro-beats with the purest perfection of their sound, just how one could have expected.
Tony will be missed on the world stages and his drums will never make a sound again, however, his legacy and his contribution to the music world will continue living forever.
My tribute to Tony Allen is a choice of the three photographs presenting him to you as a musician as well as his character.
For more images see my portfolio gallery.
