The self-taught Nigerian-born drummer, composer and songwriter was influenced by traditional Nigerian Yoruba ceremonial music and African highlife, together with American jazz. He started drumming aged 18, and it has been his passion ever since.

For a long time, Allen worked with Fela Kuti and Africa’70. Together they recorded over 30 albums. From the very beginning, Allen has been working on creating his own sound and always succeeded. “How come you are the only guy in Nigeria who plays like this – jazz and highlife?” Fela Kuti asked about Allen’s unique sound.

Later on, Allen moved to Europe and worked with numerous musicians and bands of different styles, developing a hybrid afrobeat sound with electronic, dub, R&B, and rap.

Tony Allen regularly performs at the largest festivals of Europe and the world. On August 1, he will open the 4th annual international festival “NuNote Lounge Fest”.

This summer festival with intellectual live music and a comfortable, open-air relaxation area will be held over several weekends and will include a series of exclusive concerts of popular foreign musicians on an open-air stage in the “Hermitage” Garden in Moscow.

On August 15, the festival will present Skye, ex-Morcheeba, from the UK, and on August 29 – Nouvelle Vague from France.