Jazz Articles about John Mathews

London Afrobeat Collective: Esengo

by Chris May
February 17, 2024

Back in the day, when Fela Kuti invented Afrobeat--and yes, unlike practically every other music to emerge in the 20th century, Afrobeat was indeed the creation of one person--the music served two functions: to champion the rights and aspirations of post-colonial Black Africans, particularly those at the bottom of the pyramid, and to provide a soundtrack enabling any and everyone to have a good time. It is now 27 years since Kuti passed and any Afrobeat worthy ...