Fela died in 1997 and it wasn’t long until Seun started to front his father’s surviving band, Egypt 80. The 31-year-old is now an established artist in his own right and Fela’s political urgency certainly lives on in his work. “I discuss everything I believe,” says Seun. “Because I am from Africa, I talk about our complications.”
A career in music was scarcely ever in doubt for Seun, who was already singing onstage with his father by the age of nine. “I used to come on the road with my dad when I was a baby,” he reveals.
Being immersed in music from such a young age, Seun quickly developed a thirst to prove himself creatively. However, facing initial criticism for trying to replace Fela, he approached the performer-to-songwriter transition rather seriously. It actually wasn’t until 2008 that Seun unveiled his debut LP, Many Things. The music’s sax-centric Afrobeat core immediately recalls Fela’s classic oeuvre, but Seun’s never tried to emulate his father.
“I love Afrobeat music, that’s why I make Afrobeat,” he explains. “For me, when I want to write a song it’s got to come purely from within me, from my mind, from my ability. Music should be your own expression and your own language, your own voice and your own mindset – your own aura.”
It’s been full-steam ahead since his assertive debut. In 2011 camethe groove-heavy and sharp-tongued sophomore release, From Africa With Fury: Rise, which featuredproduction from studio-great Brian Eno. Seun and Egypt 80 are currently touring the world in support of their freshly released third LP, A Long Way to the Beginning. “So far it’s been quite successful,” he says of the tour. “It is our strongest show ever.”
Indeed, this third LP finds Seun confidently presenting his unique artistic identity.The record’s startling lead single, IMF, is a prime example of Seun’s perception of reality. The title is a nod to Fela’s 1979 protest number ITT, which deemed the multi-national ITT Corporation the “International Thief-Thief”. IMF channels that song’s overt political venom, renaming the International Monetary Fund the “International Mother Fucker” and accusing the organisation of causing widespread “pain, tears and suffering”. Helping out on this angered protest is rapper M-1, of New York political hip hop duo Dead Prez. Seun, who grew up listening to hip hop, explains how the partnership unfurled.
“I read somewhere that he said he’d like to work with me so I hit him up on Twitter. We worked together on a live show before we worked together on the record. We did a show in London, did a show in Paris. I was about to wrap up the album and I thought like, ‘Yo!’ and he just jumped on it. I was glad he was happy to do it.”
In fact, while the title of the new album may imply Seun believes humans to be a long way from innocence and peaceful co-operation, that’s not what he’s looking to emphasise. “I actually believe the African continent, it’s a beginning for us. Africa now, I believe this generation is more educated. I believe it’s the beginning of a new kind of understanding.”
One thing’s for sure, on A Long Way to the Beginning Seun proves himself capable of making radical songwriting statements, which are likely to inspire people of all races. Seun and Egypt 80 come to Australia this month for Bluesfest and despite now possessing a considerable repertoire of his own, Fela’s songs are still a major setlist feature. “I don’t think that’s ever going to stop.”
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
