Tony Allen: Four facts about the man described as the “world’s greatest drummer”

He once called Kuti “greedy”

Tony Allen left Fela Kuti’s band in 1979 after over a decade, calling the legendary musician “greedy”. Allen, a consummate professional in his own right, felt that Kuti was insincere in how credits and royalties were given.

Allen was also not on board with the entourage Kuti is known to have kept, a rolling stone bunch of women entertainers and bohemian artists. One could say that Allen had not really fallen for the debauchery of superstardom.

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But Allen always maintained that even after he had left the group, he considered Kuti a friend. He recalled telling himself, “This guy [Kuti] is going to be an icon, and they will kill him one day.”