Tony Allen breaks down the five major drum patterns of Afrobeat in an unreleased clip from our recent documentary Birth of Afrobeat. Birth of Afrobeat highlights the legendary drummer's life and has screened at over 50 film festivals and cultural institutions around the world. The film premiered on PBS in January 2020.
When we explained the mission of Rest In Beats, preserving legacy and encouraging intergenerational dialogue in music, Tony understood it right away. He regularly honored his musical lineage (Victor Olaiya, Max Roach, Art Blakey) and worked with many musicians who were his junior (Damon Albarn, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Erykah Badu, Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Afrobeats artists).
“Tony had an impact as powerful as Fela Kuti’s voice, though he rarely said much,” Okeyo told Rolling Stone. “His weapon was collaboration and he was Afrobeat’s greatest ambassador. While we were filming, Tony said, ‘Afrobeat is the only major music genre of which you can still count the number of bands on your fingers-from Japan, France, to the U.S.-but that will change, it’s growing.'”
Title: Birth of Afrobeat (birthofafrobeat.com)
Director/Writer: Opiyo Okeyo
Producers: David Glines, Eric Trosset
Music: Tony Allen
Prod. Co.: Rest In Beats LLC
Distribution: APT, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
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