The eldest son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti was born in London and raised in Lagos. He started his musical career at 16 by playing in his father’s band, Egypt 80; He broke out on his own in 1986, starting his own band, the Positive Force, bringing his brand of Afrobeat that fuses funk, jazz, and highlife, around the world. He’s distinguished his own voice while carrying on his father’s legacy of activism, unafraid to criticize corruption in the Nigerian government. In 2001, he collaborated with a number of US musicians on his album Fight to Win, including Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright; in 2021, he released a two-album project with his son Made Kuti called Legacy+. His latest LP Journey Through Life balances the political themes that have defined his career with deeply personal reflections on family, life, and inner growth. Also performing is dead prez, the infamous hip-hop duo with an instantly recognizable hit (“Hip-Hop,” famously used as the bed track on Chappelle’s Show) and a legacy of calling out inequality and injustice throughout their career. Across three studio albums and a handful of mixtapes, they’ve championed militant social justice, self-determination, Pan-Africanism, and opposing corporate media. Cape Verdean singer and songwriter Elida Almeida, known for her viral single and album Nta Konsigui, will round out the evening. DJing between sets will be Rich Medina, the DJ, producer, spoken-word poet, archivist, and journalist who claims both the Rock Steady Crew and the Universal Zulu Nation and is a part of the DJ collective The Originals; in 2001 he created the “JUMP N FUNK”, North America’s original Afrobeat party series celebrating Fela Kuti and the cultural legacy of Afrobeat music. Maryam Bukar Hassan, also known as Alhanislam, is a Nigerian poet, human rights activist, and Pan-Africanist renowned for her impassioned advocacy on social issues. Recognized as one of the 100 Most Reputable Africans for 2025 and as the United Nation’s next Global Advocate for Peace, Alhanislam continues to bridge activism with the power of spoken word, using her voice to inspire change on a global scale. Maryam’s participation is supported by UN Peacekeeping, the United Nations’ Department of Peace Operations.
Join us for a panel discussion prior to the show! Info and details below. Free with RSVP here.
BEATS & ROOTS Panel Discussion
Connecting through African music, Culture & the influence on the diaspora
This panel explores how Africa has connected global communities through its rhythms, traditions, and entertainment. It also brings attention to how these have shaped the identities of communities in the diaspora. The conversation will celebrate the deep root and bold beats that keeps Africa alive in the diaspora. It will honor the past and embrace the future
Panelists
Abass M. Akeju is a music executive, film maker, CEO and President.
Moderator
Shani Kulture is the leader of a new generation of talent. Having worked his way up the ladder, Kulture reaches the masses every weekday as an on-air personality on Hot97’s Morning Show. He continues to use his platform as a forum to help educate today’s youth thru his Non-Profit outreach campaigns.
