Tony, why exactly did you choose the drums when you started to play music all these years ago? You have to get a drum kit so it's not really the cheapest way to start out in music.
Tony Allen: "Well, I didn't really need my own drum kit, you know, because local club proprietors would often provide the necessary instruments. On top of that, a good friend of mine also played the drums and I used to use his set to practise. I tried a lot of instruments - I played guitar for a while, tried the bass and even the saxophone - but in the end the drums were the only instrument I felt comfortable with. Most musicians prefer to play in the frontline, but I didn't really care about that because I felt comfortable at the back."
One of your main influences as a drummer is Guy Warren, who later changed his name to Kofi Ghanaba, a Ghanaian drummer. Can you tell us a little more about him?
Tony Allen: "Kofi was a great drummer. He only passed away just recently (December 22, 2008, red.). He was my idol, because he was an African drummer that managed to conquer the European and American scenes as well. I had the pleasure of being able to play alongside him once at the Lagos National Theatre (1978, red.) and he really was genius. The drum sets he used were entirely made up of traditional African percussion instruments; his bass drum for example was really a big converted conga."
There's this old question of who influenced who where James Brown and Fela Kuti are concerned. What's your opinion?
Tony Allen: "Oh, both of them influenced each other without a doubt. Their music doesn't sound the same, Fela played afrobeat and James played funk, but if you have a good ear you will hear influences of funk in afrobeat - the drumming for example - and vice versa."
Some describe your style as afro-funk.
Tony Allen: "I don't know who came up with that. I just play pure afrobeat! I've taken it to different dimensions over the years, that's true, but it's always been afrobeat."
From the very beginning afrobeat songs have had a revolutionary content. It's party music, but message music at the same time. How important is that message for you?
Tony Allen: "Music always carries a message. I just choose not to use it as a weapon all the time. There are other things to sing about as well. What I say in my songs depends of the mood I'm in."
Afrobeat has been spreading its message now for over three decades, but the situation in Nigeria hasn't really improved much. Has afrobeat failed in that aspect?
Tony Allen: "Well, in the end afrobeat is still music; we're not the government. We can try to inspire them with our message, but it's they who have to change things. Afrobeat is just there as a means to make people aware of what is going on."
In the course of your career you did quite a number of musical collaborations. What do you look for in a project before you say yes?
Tony Allen: "The music has to be interesting. I mean, it shouldn't necessarily have to depend on my input; it should already be interesting enough before I say yes."
One musician you've collaborated with on several occasions already is Damon Albarn (English singer-songwriter with bands like Blur and Gorillaz. He united with Tony Allen for the album project 'The Good, The Bad & The Queen', red.). How would you describe your relationship with him?
Tony Allen: "Damon is simply a good friend. As you say, we've already collaborated several times - the first time was when I invited him to play on my 'Home Cooking' album (Wrasse Records, 2002, red.) - and that's how, over time, our friendship has grown."
'Secrent Agent', your first album for the prestigious World Circuit label, feels very much like a classic afrobeat album in the best sense of the word. Was that the idea from the start? I'm asking, because some of your older work was more experimental in nature.
Tony Allen: "Yes, absolutely. I felt I had done enough experiments and wanted to go back to the roots of afrobeat. ‘Secret Agent' is an album for the people, straight up classic afrobeat."
You're still often announced as "the drummer of Fela Kuti". Aren't you tired of that after all these years?
Tony Allen: "People will probably keep on saying that until the day I die, but Tony Allen is much more than just the drummer of Fela Kuti. Of course it's part of my life story, so I can't say I really hold it against people. It's something I can't change, so I don't fight it and just let it be."