It had been since 2013's 'No Place For My Dream' since we last saw Femi Kuti and his Positive Force took to the studio, but now Femi finally presents 'One People One World', a sturdy afrobeat album that is sure not to disappoint hardcore fans of the genre. That being said, the album also contains influences from highlife, soul, r&b, reggae and other African, Caribbean and African-American genres; as is to be expected, Femi claims: "When I was a boy, I listened to funk, highlife, jazz, folk songs, classical music and my father's compositions, so you will hear those things in the music, but everything on this record comes strictly from my heart and soul. Like Africa itself, afrobeat has endless possibilities within its structure. As we play live at The Shrine, the songs evolve, absorbing the energy of the audience. It's like painting, with the changing hues and tones of the dancers coloring the music. When we take it into the studio, you hear all of those influences moving together. On this album, I kept to my roots and let the music flow through me, without diluting it. I didn't think funk, or afrobeat, or anything else. If you hear something in the melodies, it may be there, but as a composer, I surrendered to the higher forces that give me this gift to play music and let it flow out of me.". Besides with the regular band members of his backing band Positive Force, for this album Femi also collaborated with his son Omorinmade Anikulapo Kuti: "My son, Made, is studying music in England at Trinity College, the same place his grandfather Fela Kuti studied, and played piano and bass on many of the tracks. His contribution brought an intimacy to the sessions. Having Made play with me, and give me advice on the arrangements, was lovely.". The album opens strongly with the killer 'Africa Will Be Great Again', also symbolizing the message of hope Femi wanted 'One People One World' to be: "Yes, the music is more uplifting, more optimistic. I'm a father and I love my kids, so I want to give the younger generation a message of hope. Despite all our problems, we can create greatness in our lives!". If you're into sturdy afro-funk, make sure to check 'Best To Live On The Goode Side', but for those who prefer things a bit more laidback, there's the afrobeat meets r&b of closing track 'The Way Our Lives Go (Rise And Shine)'. Title track 'One People, One World' may be a somewhat corny call for world peace, Femi wouldn't be a Kuti if the track list wouldn't also feature a number of socio-critical messages: 'Dem Militarize Democracy' is a sharp critique of the political situation in his home country Nigeria, in which Femi doesn't even shy away from naming names even naming names, 'Corruption Na Stealing' is a clear statement against the corruption that has become so integrated into Nigeria's economical system, it's no longer considered as stealing, in 'E Get As E Be', Femi asserts that the succession of revolutions and civil wars in Africa has only strengthened the status quo, and with 'Dem Don Come Again' he warns religion is often abused by the wrong people for all the wrong reasons ("They use religion and the word of God to do their bad bad things!"). Afrobeat doesn't get better than this!