Tropical Diaspora Records Expands Its Global Web with Brazilian Afrobeat Powerhouse Abeokuta
Berlin, Olinda, Recife – Tropical Diaspora Records is thrilled to amplify its vibrant, cross-continental rhythm with the announcement of its newest signing: the explosive Afrobeat ensemble Abeokuta, hailing from Recife, Brazil.
This signing embodies the very essence of the Tropicalistas worldwide movement, weaving another vital thread into a human web of musical connections that now spans the diasporas of Germany, Spain, and Brazil—from Berlin and Madrid to São Paulo and Recife.
Abeokuta emerges from the nation often called "the Nigeria of Latin America"—Brazil, home to the largest population of Black people outside of Africa itself. Taking their name from the Nigerian hometown of the legendary Fela Kuti, Abeokuta has cemented its status as one of Brazil's premier independent Afrobeat forces.
The band's genesis is a story of inspiration meeting action. Founded by bassist and Fela admirer Jedson Nobre, the project was set in motion following a fateful trip to Rio de Janeiro. There, Jedson found himself in the room with history, meeting iconic Fela collaborators like drummer Tony Allen and guitarist Oghene Kologbo. After a powerful jam session with other Brazilian musical heavyweights, he returned to Recife determined to build a band that channeled this raw, revolutionary energy.
"The positive feedback from the crowd at our shows made it clear we had to take a step forward and materialize that live energy into a definitive record," explains Nobre, reflecting on the journey that led to their latest EP, ‘Agô’.
But Abeokuta is far more than a homage; it is a unique fusion. The band masterfully grafts the unmistakable footprint of Afrobeat onto the rich trunk of Pernambuco's popular culture. They adorn Fela’s blueprint with the guise of local rhythms—maracatus, caboclinhos, and afoxés—drawing from the deep musical experiences of their percussionists. The result is a sound that feels both globally revolutionary and intimately familiar, offering listeners a powerful sense of regional identification.
In the tradition of Fela Kuti, who merged jazz, funk, and percussion to create a swinging platform for potent social critique, Abeokuta carries the torch forward. They translate a new experience tied to familiarity, proving that the Afrobeat message of unity and resistance continues to inspire artists around the world to move and expose their ideals.