Latest news with #FelaKuti
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rare photos capture Afrobeats' rise to take over the world
Afrobeats has swept the world of music like a tsunami - it dominates playlists and its fans cram into huge stadiums to hear the likes of Nigerian superstars Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy. Photographer Oliver Akinfeleye, known professionally as "Drummer", caught the Afrobeats wave early - and he decided to document it as it grew into a global phenomenon. Since 2017, the New Yorker of Nigerian descent has had exclusive backstage access to some of the biggest artists of the genre - capturing quieter moments of reflection as well as strutting stage performances. "I remember my first project with Wizkid like it was yesterday - Echostage Washington DC, 2017," Drummer told the BBC. "The feeling was exhilarating. It was my job to tell the visual story of how it all went down." Drummer has not stopped clicking since - and has now released Eagle Eye, a book of photographs showcasing Afrobeats' rise from humble beginnings to one of Africa's largest cultural exports. Afrobeats has its roots in various West African musical genres that became especially popular in the decades that followed independence as the continent began celebrating its freedom from colonial rule. Highlife, which flourished along the coast from the late 19th Century, became synonymous with Ghana's national identity after independence in 1957 - and was in turn hugely influential on Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. His Afrobeat (minus the "s") movement, which mixed traditional rhythms with funk and jazz, became the sound of the 1970s and 1980s in West Africa. At the turn of the millennium, this rich cultural heritage fed into Afrobeats, along with a mix of Western pop, rap and dancehall. It gained further popularity in the UK and North America, where there are large diaspora populations, in particular from Nigeria, where most of the genre's stars came from. Afrobeats artists began performing to these communities at first in small venues in the early 2010s. Then it really take off - between 2017 and 2022 Afrobeats experienced 550% growth in streams on Spotify, according to data from the world's most popular streaming service. This resulted in many of the artists becoming household names around the world, and the musical industry taking note. It has gone on to include African music in mainstream award ceremonies like the Grammys. Today these artists easily pack out stadiums like Madison Square Garden in New York - pictured below ahead of Wizkid's performance in 2023. "Madison Square was a night to remember - the iconic venue illuminated in the colours of the Nigerian flag honouring our homeland," says Drummer. Drummer was able to take photographs of the musicians as they started out on their global careers. "I always felt that I was capturing moments with just my eyes. Walking the streets of New York City, I would frame scenes in my mind - people, light, emotion," the photographer says. "I'd ask myself, how do I translate this mental perspective to reality?" Gradually, the audience grew and became more international with fans in countries such as China, Germany and Brazil. Now even non-African musicians are taking up the Afrobeats sound and releasing their own versions, including artists such as Chris Brown, who released Blow My Mind with Davido. The US singer has also performed with Wizkid in London - as the photo below from 2021 shows. "I love this picture because when Wizkid brought Chris Brown out at The O2 arena, the place exploded. No-one saw it coming - the energy shifted instantly," says Drummer. "Shock, excitement and pure electricity. A moment stamped in memory and in history." Drummer says one of the aims of the photo book is not to just show people what he saw, but to help them feel what he experienced - through his pictures. It also sometimes reveals the feelings of the superstars in their private moments. This final picture shows Wizkid backstage on his phone in 2021. It was "a rare quiet moment", but even in the silence and the calm his presence spoke volumes, says Drummer. The sounds that has penetrated the world Afrobeats megastar Burna Boy is still 'a work in progress', his mother says Rema, the Afrobeats star who does not intend to calm down How Afrobeats made it to the very top of Glastonbury Afrobeats is finally getting its own chart Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Afrobeats - rare photos chart the rise of Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido
Afrobeats has swept the world of music like a tsunami - it dominates playlists and its fans cram into huge stadiums to hear the likes of Nigerian superstars Wizkid, Davido and Burna Oliver Akinfeleye, known professionally as "Drummer", caught the Afrobeats wave early - and he decided to document it as it grew into a global 2017, the New Yorker of Nigerian descent has had exclusive backstage access to some of the biggest artists of the genre - capturing quieter moments of reflection as well as strutting stage performances."I remember my first project with Wizkid like it was yesterday - Echostage Washington DC, 2017," Drummer told the BBC. "The feeling was exhilarating. It was my job to tell the visual story of how it all went down." Drummer has not stopped clicking since - and has now released Eagle Eye, a book of photographs showcasing Afrobeats' rise from humble beginnings to one of Africa's largest cultural has its roots in various West African musical genres that became especially popular in the decades that followed independence as the continent began celebrating its freedom from colonial which flourished along the coast from the late 19th Century, became synonymous with Ghana's national identity after independence in 1957 - and was in turn hugely influential on Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. His Afrobeat (minus the "s") movement, which mixed traditional rhythms with funk and jazz, became the sound of the 1970s and 1980s in West the turn of the millennium, this rich cultural heritage fed into Afrobeats, along with a mix of Western pop, rap and dancehall. It gained further popularity in the UK and North America, where there are large diaspora populations, in particular from Nigeria, where most of the genre's stars came artists began performing to these communities at first in small venues in the early it really take off - between 2017 and 2022 Afrobeats experienced 550% growth in streams on Spotify, according to data from the world's most popular streaming service. This resulted in many of the artists becoming household names around the world, and the musical industry taking has gone on to include African music in mainstream award ceremonies like the these artists easily pack out stadiums like Madison Square Garden in New York - pictured below ahead of Wizkid's performance in 2023."Madison Square was a night to remember - the iconic venue illuminated in the colours of the Nigerian flag honouring our homeland," says Drummer. Drummer was able to take photographs of the musicians as they started out on their global careers. "I always felt that I was capturing moments with just my eyes. Walking the streets of New York City, I would frame scenes in my mind - people, light, emotion," the photographer says."I'd ask myself, how do I translate this mental perspective to reality?"Gradually, the audience grew and became more international with fans in countries such as China, Germany and Brazil. Now even non-African musicians are taking up the Afrobeats sound and releasing their own versions, including artists such as Chris Brown, who released Blow My Mind with US singer has also performed with Wizkid in London - as the photo below from 2021 shows."I love this picture because when Wizkid brought Chris Brown out at The O2 arena, the place exploded. No-one saw it coming - the energy shifted instantly," says Drummer."Shock, excitement and pure electricity. A moment stamped in memory and in history." Drummer says one of the aims of the photo book is not to just show people what he saw, but to help them feel what he experienced - through his also sometimes reveals the feelings of the superstars in their private final picture shows Wizkid backstage on his phone in was "a rare quiet moment", but even in the silence and the calm his presence spoke volumes, says Drummer. More about Afrobeats from the BBC: The sounds that has penetrated the worldAfrobeats megastar Burna Boy is still 'a work in progress', his mother saysRema, the Afrobeats star who does not intend to calm downHow Afrobeats made it to the very top of GlastonburyAfrobeats is finally getting its own chart Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet Obongjayar, the Afrobeat Innovator Who Can Rock a Stadium With No Fear
You wouldn't quite call Obongjayar a rapper today, but back in 2016, he caught the eye of Richard Russell — the influential British producer who helped launch Adele's career and heads the indie label XL Recordings — with a freestyle over Kendrick Lamar's 'u' from To Pimp a Butterfly. The song had been a breakthrough for Obongjayar, one where he began to untangle some identity crises from his youth in Calabar, Nigeria to his young adulthood in London. Born Steven Umoh, he took on the name Obongjayar as he began to drift away from hip-hop, putting together Obong — the word for 'king' or 'god' in Ibibio, his local language — with Jayar, a play on being a junior, named after his father. He liked the way the name combined the power of a ruler and the humility of a son. Since his 'u' freestyle, he leaned even more into multiplicity, wielding electronic music, rock, soul, and even country into a sort of new-age Afrobeat of his own making. You can hear remnants of Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti's innovation and defiance in songs like 'Message in a Hammer' from his expansive 2022 debut album Some Nights I Dream of Doors, which he wrote after Nigerian security forces shot at anti-police-brutality protesters in 2020. You can also hear a softer side across Doors and his four EPs, too. Though he's retained a rapper's bravado and way with words, he sings in a grovely croke as well as he does in an airy falsetto. His chameleonic approach has earned him a dedicated fanbase and one of the U.K.'s esteemed songwriting awards, an Ivor Novello. In November, he will headline his biggest show yet, at London's O2 Kentish Town Forum, to support his sophomore album, Paradise Now, out May 30. More from Rolling Stone Meet Lily Seabird, an Unflinching Songwriter Who'd Make Leonard Cohen Proud How Lifeguard Unleashed the Melodies Inside Their Punk Noise Meet Haute and Freddy, the Carnival-Pop Duo Blurring Centuries and Breaking Rules As a testament to his range, he's also earned a fan in coveted dance producer Fred Again…, who remixed Obongjayar's gentle ode to his younger brother, 'I Wish It Was Me,' into the joyous new track, 'Adore U.' Obongjayar had gone from being a stranger to Fred, moved to tears watching a set of his online, to performing 'Adore U' with him at a sold-out stadium, Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum. Despite the massive crowd, he felt at ease. 'I don't get nervous because I know what I'm doing,' he says. 'I know who I am. I don't need to put on a thing, I'm not performing. I'm just being, because I love the songs.' He wasn't always so self-assured. When Obongjayar first started posting music to SoundCloud, he was making 'terrible American rap,' he says, trying to be someone he was not. 'If you grew up in Nigeria when I grew up in Nigeria, everyone had that identity crisis,' he says, having moved to London around 17 years old. His mother had left Nigeria for England after an abusive relationship with his father, leaving Obongjayar and his younger brother in their grandmother's care until she was able to bring them over. 'We were so fed American culture — American movies, American music, watching Jerry Springer, Cartoon Network — that being Nigerian was almost not as cool. What was seen as cool at that time was kids who had parents in America, kids who went to America for holiday. I didn't have any of those things, but I was around kids who did, so I used to lie a lot. When we would go back from school holiday, me and my brother would lie through our teeth that we'd been to England. We put on a fake accent, but our accents were American accents,' he says. Though he had stumbled upon a Fela Kuti bootleg CD as a child, he was more interested in 50 Cent, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne. He didn't really appreciate Kuti until he was a graphic design student at Norwich University of the Arts in the east of England. His British friends, who played the Nigerian bandleader around Obongjayar, wrongly assumed he already knew all about him. 'When you're in a different place and you see how revered someone like a Fela Kuti is, you realize how important it is, him being as uniquely himself as he was across any geography,' says Obongjayar. 'I thought that was so inspiring, because the music was just so Nigerian. His music being able to open up a window into what African life was, it's like hip-hop opening the world up to the hood, to where that struggle came from. That made me realize, 'Oh my God, my job as an artist is to open up that window to my world and show people clearly what I'm seeing.'' To that point, Paradise Now, is emotional but direct. Obongjayar is 32 now, according to the Guardian (he playfully refuses to share his age with me. 'I'm going to be 25,' he says) and particularly moved by hits by Bowie and Prince. His approach to Paradise Now was influenced by old interviews of theirs too, where their perspectives were incisive and clear. 'There's not too much fat,' he says of them. 'It's been distilled to a point where it's so fine and understandable and also very unique, but it doesn't scare you away because it's too complex.' One of the Paradise Now tracks that does this best is 'Talk Olympics,' which bears the album's only vocal feature, rapper Little Simz, his close friend and frequent collaborator. The frenzied percussion on 'Talk Olympic' excitingly elicits the commotion of a dense West African market, but mirrors the similarly incessant and overwhelming chatter that can spill from the internet into real life. 'Trending topic psychologist, social media philanthropist, political biologists, talking, talking, talking rubbish,' he chants. 'Everyone just pretends they know what the hell they're talking about,' he tells me about the song's inspiration. 'Yesterday, you weren't talking about this. You had no fucking clue until it became a thing.' 'Talk Olympics' stands out as the one of the most distinctly African-sounding song on Paradise Now, where Obongjayar weaves together highlife, electro-pop, all kinds of rock, and a touch of rap into a tapestry on which he grieves broken relationships, builds new ones, and asserts himself. Across the album and much of his music, he performs with more of a Nigerian accent than the British one he's often heard speaking in. 'When I speak to my parents, my family, my brother, I speak in my Nigerian accent,' he says. 'But my saving grace is that when I think, I think in Nigerian, I think with my voice. The way I make music and the way I sing is very reflective of how I think rather than how I speak. It's pure unfiltered.' He intended to call the album Instant Animal, like the crashing, psychedelic jam session of a song on Paradise Now, thinking about what it means to really surrender to a moment. 'If you're dreaming and you fall down, your body's reaction is to wake up, because it's either you die in that dream or you wake up. That's what 'Instant Animal' is. You become this thing because you're forced into a corner.' While he was working on what would become the album though, he was hosting a series of parties called Paradise Now that also prioritized the immediate and instinctual, he and his friends being present with each other. It was also a place where he could test out the music with his collaborators. He had often gotten feedback that his songs sounded different live than on wax, and wanted to see if he could sap the dissonance. 'Sometimes the music can be too complicated to replicate live,' he says. He chose a venue called Ormside to host Paradise Now, a South East London haunt of his with a 250 capacity. 'We sold that out every single time,' he says. He loved the intimacy of it. 'There's no green room, so everyone's just in the space. It's got a small stage, there's a bar in the corner, it's quite dingy. Great sound system, great people that work there, it's just perfect. You're in the smoking area with everyone else. You're talking to people who've come. It's such a family environment. There's no separation between anyone, so you get off-stage and you're in the crowd.' As the record progressed, he says, Instant Animal felt too brash. 'It's the aggressive cousin of Paradise Now,' he says. I mention that his Paradise Now parties reminded me of the ones Janelle Monáe and friends threw while they made her last Grammy-nominated album, The Age of Pleasure. They wanted to see how their records resonated on the dancefloor. In hindsight, Obongjayar thinks he may have unknowingly been a plus one at Monáe's. Testing music at his parties, though, was even more personal. 'It's more about how it makes me feel,' he says, 'because I need to be comfortable with how it moves me.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Cision Canada
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Cunard partners with Abbey Road Studios for iconic music collaboration
VALENCIA, Calif., June 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- Cunard has come together with Abbey Road Studios to bring a new and exclusive Listening Lounge experience to music lovers on board Queen Elizabeth. The luxury cruise line has partnered with the iconic recording studio to create a series of curated playlists packed with iconic recordings, each specially handpicked by the Abbey Road team. Set to debut on Queen Elizabeth this Autumn, the 60-minute Listening Lounge experience will be hosted in the Commodore Club, taking listeners on a themed journey via Hi-Res / ANC Bowers & Wilkins headphones. A number of the world's most celebrated artists from Abbey Road's rich recording heritage will feature in the playlists, including the likes of Ed Sheeran (who recorded part of '÷' on Queen Mary 2), Fela Kuti, Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, and The Beatles – who famously hail from Cunard's spiritual home, Liverpool. The Beatles connection also represents a symmetry of two very special crossings, with their iconic Abbey Road album, the cover of which four Cunard bellhops have recreated above, released in 1969 – the same year as QE2's maiden Transatlantic Crossing to the USA. The playlists will also serve up some of the world's most famous film scores, showcasing Abbey Road's recently refurbished Studio One, as the home of film music for more than 45 years. Guests will be treated to goose-bump recordings from the likes of Raiders of The Lost Ark, The Return of The Jedi, The Last Emperor, The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Harry Potter, Skyfall, The Shape of Water and Gravity. And more recently, the Black Panther films, 1917, Tár, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Wonka, Barbie, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, and Wicked. Guests will have the chance to experience the Listening Lounges on select sea days, starting during Queen Elizabeth's maiden Caribbean season from Miami in October. A curated menu of paired Cunard cocktails will be on offer to complement the music and scenery. Abbey Road at Sea Music fans will be able to enjoy the ultimate experience on this special Event Voyage in partnership with Abbey Road. The sailing departs Southampton for New York on October 23, 2026, the same voyage as many music legends over the years, celebrating the incredible heritage of Abbey Road. The week-long crossing will feature live performances, a photography exhibition, and intimate Q&As with Abbey Road's roster of award-winning recording and mastering engineers – sharing stories of the studios' continuous innovation, creativity, and role as an inspiring home for creators around the globe. Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: "We're always exploring new ways to make life on board even more special, and incredible voyages deserve incredible soundtracks. Abbey Road Studios is synonymous with iconic musical performances, and this partnership allows us to bring this heritage to sea. Whether guests are unwinding with a cocktail, watching the waves roll by, or just taking a moment for themselves, our exclusive Listening Lounge experience will set the mood beautifully. When it comes to luxury ocean travel, all you need is love – and the perfect playlist." Jeremy Huffelmann, General Manager at Abbey Road, added: "We're thrilled to collaborate with Cunard for this special partnership, which will offer guests a unique way to experience music, wherever their journey takes them. Abbey Road has been the home of music-making for more than 90 years, and has helped shape the landscape of popular music, film and, games scores. We are excited to bring this incredible musical heritage to Queen Elizabeth this year." For more information about Cunard or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Advisor, call Cunard at 1-800-728-6273, or visit For Travel Advisors interested in further information, please contact your Business Development Manager, visit or call Cunard at 1-800-528-6273. About Cunard Cunard is a luxury British cruise line, renowned for creating unforgettable experiences around the world. Cunard has been a leading operator of passenger ships since 1840, and this year celebrates an incredible 185 years of operation. 2025 is a momentous year in Cunard's history, which will be marked with several iconic land-based events and special Event Voyages. The Cunard experience is built on fine dining, hand-selected entertainment, and outstanding White Star service. From a partnership with a two-Michelin starred chef, to inspiring guest speakers, to world class theatre productions, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make the experience unforgettable. A pioneer in transatlantic journeys and round world voyages, destinations sailed to also include Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Far East and Australia. There are currently four Cunard ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and new ship, Queen Anne, which entered service in May 2024. This investment is part of the company's ambitious plans for the future of Cunard globally, with the brand now boasting four ships in simultaneous service for the first time since 1999. Cunard is based at Carnival House in Southampton and has been owned since 1998 by Carnival Corporation & plc. (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cunard partners with Abbey Road Studios for iconic music collaboration
VALENCIA, Calif., June 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- Cunard has come together with Abbey Road Studios to bring a new and exclusive Listening Lounge experience to music lovers on board Queen Elizabeth. The luxury cruise line has partnered with the iconic recording studio to create a series of curated playlists packed with iconic recordings, each specially handpicked by the Abbey Road team. Set to debut on Queen Elizabeth this Autumn, the 60-minute Listening Lounge experience will be hosted in the Commodore Club, taking listeners on a themed journey via Hi-Res / ANC Bowers & Wilkins headphones. A number of the world's most celebrated artists from Abbey Road's rich recording heritage will feature in the playlists, including the likes of Ed Sheeran (who recorded part of '÷' on Queen Mary 2), Fela Kuti, Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, and The Beatles – who famously hail from Cunard's spiritual home, Liverpool. The Beatles connection also represents a symmetry of two very special crossings, with their iconic Abbey Road album, the cover of which four Cunard bellhops have recreated above, released in 1969 – the same year as QE2's maiden Transatlantic Crossing to the USA. The playlists will also serve up some of the world's most famous film scores, showcasing Abbey Road's recently refurbished Studio One, as the home of film music for more than 45 years. Guests will be treated to goose-bump recordings from the likes of Raiders of The Lost Ark, The Return of The Jedi, The Last Emperor, The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Harry Potter, Skyfall, The Shape of Water and Gravity. And more recently, the Black Panther films, 1917, Tár, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Wonka, Barbie, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, and Wicked. Guests will have the chance to experience the Listening Lounges on select sea days, starting during Queen Elizabeth's maiden Caribbean season from Miami in October. A curated menu of paired Cunard cocktails will be on offer to complement the music and scenery. Abbey Road at Sea Music fans will be able to enjoy the ultimate experience on this special Event Voyage in partnership with Abbey Road. The sailing departs Southampton for New York on October 23, 2026, the same voyage as many music legends over the years, celebrating the incredible heritage of Abbey Road. The week-long crossing will feature live performances, a photography exhibition, and intimate Q&As with Abbey Road's roster of award-winning recording and mastering engineers – sharing stories of the studios' continuous innovation, creativity, and role as an inspiring home for creators around the globe. Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: "We're always exploring new ways to make life on board even more special, and incredible voyages deserve incredible soundtracks. Abbey Road Studios is synonymous with iconic musical performances, and this partnership allows us to bring this heritage to sea. Whether guests are unwinding with a cocktail, watching the waves roll by, or just taking a moment for themselves, our exclusive Listening Lounge experience will set the mood beautifully. When it comes to luxury ocean travel, all you need is love – and the perfect playlist." Jeremy Huffelmann, General Manager at Abbey Road, added: "We're thrilled to collaborate with Cunard for this special partnership, which will offer guests a unique way to experience music, wherever their journey takes them. Abbey Road has been the home of music-making for more than 90 years, and has helped shape the landscape of popular music, film and, games scores. We are excited to bring this incredible musical heritage to Queen Elizabeth this year." For more information about Cunard or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Advisor, call Cunard at 1-800-728-6273, or visit For Travel Advisors interested in further information, please contact your Business Development Manager, visit or call Cunard at 1-800-528-6273. About CunardCunard is a luxury British cruise line, renowned for creating unforgettable experiences around the world. Cunard has been a leading operator of passenger ships since 1840, and this year celebrates an incredible 185 years of operation. 2025 is a momentous year in Cunard's history, which will be marked with several iconic land-based events and special Event Voyages. The Cunard experience is built on fine dining, hand-selected entertainment, and outstanding White Star service. From a partnership with a two-Michelin starred chef, to inspiring guest speakers, to world class theatre productions, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make the experience unforgettable. A pioneer in transatlantic journeys and round world voyages, destinations sailed to also include Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Far East and Australia. There are currently four Cunard ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and new ship, Queen Anne, which entered service in May 2024. This investment is part of the company's ambitious plans for the future of Cunard globally, with the brand now boasting four ships in simultaneous service for the first time since 1999. Cunard is based at Carnival House in Southampton and has been owned since 1998 by Carnival Corporation & plc. (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK). Social MediaFacebook: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cunard View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
