Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 have released “Na Dem”, a new single featuring Tom Morello, the guitarist best known for Rage Against the Machine.
Morello stays in the background for most of the track before his guitar takes over near the end. It’s a fitting pairing: both artists have built careers on music that takes aim at power.
The lineage
Seun is the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and fronts Egypt 80, the band that played with his father in the later years of his career. Where much of today’s Afrobeats leans towards pop, Seun has kept the original Afrobeat template alive: long grooves, horn sections and pointed political lyrics.
Bringing in a rock guitarist with Morello’s profile opens that tradition up to a new audience without watering it down.
Listen
“Na Dem” is out now.
Release details via OkayAfrica.
