The start of 2010 marks the first time Wax Poetics has devoted an entire issue to modern African music. And it all points back to the first Black President, Fela Kuti, who, with drummer Tony Allen, created an Afrobeat shockwave felt throughout the continent. Purchase now! And listen to the issue!

Featured Articles:

• Fela Kuti
  “When did I start calling my music Afro-beat? Let me tell you. I was playing highlife jazz when Geraldo Pino came to town in ’66 or a bit earlier with soul. That’s what upset everything, man. He came to town with James Brown’s music...”
• Tony Allen
  “I think of all Fela’s talents, he was the best arranger of the horns that I have ever run across. I would tell him, without his formal education, he would not have been what he was! This is what is missing when you hear people try to do Afrobeat today. All the focus nowadays is attitude, attitude. Not on the composition!”
• Vincent Ahehehinnou
  “Orchestre Poly-Rythmo have done many tracks based on the influence we got from James Brown. He had more influence on our music than Fela. Back in the days, there was no band from Benin who didn’t have something in their repertoire influenced by James Brown. But there were very few who did Afrobeat; it was less interesting for local bands, as it was very close to what we had here already.”

Also Includes:

• Re:Discovery Cashless Society, Mams & Hart, Hugh Masekela, Buari, C. K. Mann & His Carousel 7
• Voodoo Frank Collector of African vinyl makes sacrifices for the funk
• Shafiq Longtime producer frees his mind, debut album follows
• Fanga Persuasive band lights the way to a new Afrobeat dimension
• Ghana Special Soundway documents Ghanaian highlife’s roots
• Record Rundown DJ Rich Medina is a longtime champion of African rhythms
• Pax Nicholas broke free from Fela’s grip to create his own hard-hitting Afrobeat masterpiece
• Artist Ghariokwu Lemi handcrafted classic Fela album covers
• The Rail Band shot to stardom by fusing modernism with Mali’s rich folkloric tradition
• Orchestra Baobab embraced Cuban rhythms but shines in many styles
• Analog Out The surreal Afrobeat ballet of Fela’s Nigerian shows

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