Welcome to another edition of iDEY! Rewind, a weekly feature where we journey back to the early days of afro-pop music.
This week, we go back to 1984, the year Nigerian afrobeat icon Tony Allen released his “N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always)” album.
Background
Following his resignation as music director of Fela Kuti‘s Afrika 70 band in 1979, Tony Allen went on to form his own band. The band was called Afrobeat 2000.
Prior to his exit from Afrika 70, Tony Allen had released 3 live music albums – all of which reportedly received Fela Kuti‘s blessing. With Afrobeat 2000, Tony Allen developed a new sound afrofunk – a fusion of afrobeat with the dub, funk and electronica sounds of the 1980s.
“Never Expect Power Always (aka N.E.P.A.)” – recorded in London and released in 1985 – was Tony Allen’s second album post Fela, behind “No Discrimination (1980)“.
According to a review by Adam Greenberg of AllMusic.com, The album’s lead track “Nepa“,
…is largely a biting criticism and mocking of the Nigerian Electrical Power Authority, rife with corruption and poor service.
Legacy
Through the song, Tony Allen accurately described the epileptic power supply Nigerians had to put up with in the 1970s & 1980s.
It is indeed sad to see that 33 years after, the song accurately describes the plight of Nigerians and citizens of many other African countries.
Listen & Enjoy.
