Tony Oladipo Allen (born August 12, 1940 in Lagos, Nigeria.) is a Nigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter. Years Active: 1960s- present. As drummer and musical director of Fela Anikulapo Kuti's band "Africa 70" from 1968-1979, Tony Allen was a co-founder of the genre of Afrobeat music. As Fela stated, "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat". Early career A self-taught musician, Allen began to play drum-kit at the age of eighteen, while working as an engineer for a Nigerian radio station.
