It is the 19th anniversary of the Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti. Apart from his conscious music and unique melody, Fela would be remembered for carving a niche for himself in the world’s music industry.

Even though he is dead and long gone, his special genre of music, Afrobeat remains and it is now been played not only in Nigeria but worldwide. Apart from two of his children, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti who have are constantly flying the flag of undiluted Afrobeat, here are three other international bands that are playing the genre like Fela.

1. Antibalas

Talking about a group that plays afrobeat almost exactly like Fela, Antibalas stands out. The group’s name means “bulletproof” in Spanish. Formed in 1998, a year after Fela’s death the group is based in Brooklyn, New York.
Formed by Martín Perna originally as Conjunto. the group has featured several original members of Fela’s band including Tony Allen , Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Tunde Williams, Oghene Kologbo, Nicolas Addey, Dele Sosimi, Ola Jagun among others. In the summer of 2008, Antibalas was featured off-Broadway in Fela!, a musical celebrating the life of Fela Kuti.
But for visa issues, the group would have had their first performance in Nigeria in December, 2014 at the Lagos Jazz Series organised by Oti Bazunu.

2. Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra

Kokolo is an American Afrobeat band also from New York City. The group was formed in year 2001 by songwriter/producer Ray Lugo. If not for the accents processed by the band’s vocalists, and backup singers, one would mistake them for the original afrobeat crooner, Fela and his Egypt 80 band.

3. The Shaolin Afronauts

In order not to be a mere clone of Fela Africa 70 the Shaoline Afronauts spiced Afrobeat with elements of avant-garde jazz. The Adelaide, Australia based instrumental group was formed in 2008, ayear after fela’s death just like the Antibalas. Even though none of the group members is from Nigeria, the have a track titled “Ojo Aba Meta”, a Yoruba word for Saturday.

4. Afrolicious

Afrolicious it technically an Afrobeat band, even though its music is heavily flavoured with dance-fusion, funk and electro kind of music. However, it is complete with elements of Fela’s music such as – drums, conga, horns, guitar and the keyboard. The group also sings conscious lyrics.