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{{pp|type=semi}}
{{BaseArticle
| shortdesc = Nigerian musician
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Tony Allen {{Verified artist}}
| verified = yes
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| image = Tony_Allen_med_band_cropped_(231308).jpg
| caption = Allen at Oslo Jazzfestival 2015
| birth_name = Tony Oladipo Allen
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1940
|7|20}}
| birth_place = [[Lagos]], [[Colonial Nigeria|British Nigeria]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|4|30|1940|8|12}}
| death_place = [[Paris]], France
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Afrobeat]]
*[[jazz]]
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Drummer
* composer
* songwriter
}}
| instrument = {{flatlist|
* Drums
*percussion
}}
| years_active = 1968–2020
| label =
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Fela Kuti|Africa '70]]
* [[The Good, the Bad & the Queen]]
*[[Rocket Juice & the Moon]]
*[[Yannis & The Yaw|Yannis & the Yaw]]}}
| website =
}}

[[Image:Tony Allen mg 6469.jpg|thumb|Allen at the [[Eurockéennes]], 2007]]
'''Tony Oladipo Allen''' (20 July 1940 – 30 April 2020) was a Nigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter. Allen was the drummer and musical director of [[Fela Kuti]]'s band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the founders of the [[Afrobeat]] genre.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-01 |title=Quand Tony Allen, père de l'afrobeat, se met à table |url=https://www.telerama.fr/musique/mort-de-tony-allen,-pere-de-lafrobeat,n6634393.php |language=fr}}</ref>

Fela once stated that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/tony-allen-the-veteran-afrobeat-drummer-is-shaking-his-sticks-as-hard-and-as-brilliantly-as-ever-770993.html|work=[[The Independent]]|title=Tony Allen: The veteran Afrobeat drummer is shaking his sticks as hard and as brilliantly as ever|first=Nigel|last=Williamson|date=18 January 2008|access-date=22 April 2008}}</ref> He was described by [[Brian Eno]] as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/steve-reid-staying-in-the-rhythms-steve-reid-by-ian-patterson|website=Allaboutjazz.com|title=Steve Reid: Staying in the Rhythms|first=Ian|last=Patterson|date=24 December 2007|access-date=22 April 2008}}</ref>

Later in life, Allen collaborated with [[Damon Albarn]] on several projects, including [[The Good, the Bad & the Queen|the Good, the Bad & the Queen]] and [[Rocket Juice & the Moon]], as well as on [[Yannis & The Yaw|Yannis & the Yaw]] with [[Yannis Philippakis]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=Reed|first=Ryan|date=2012-03-28|title=Rocket Juice and the Moon: Rocket Juice and the Moon|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/rocket-juice-and-the-moon/rocket-juice-and-the-moon-rocket-juice-and-the-moo/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Paste Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yannis & The Yaw – Transgressive Records |url=https://transgressiverecords.com/artist/yannis-the-yaw/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=transgressiverecords.com}}</ref>

==Early career==
Allen was born in [[Lagos]], Nigeria, to James Alabi Allen, a motor mechanic from [[Colonial Nigeria|British Nigeria]] (now present day [[Nigeria]]) and Prudentia Mettle, from the [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]] (now present day [[Ghana]]).<ref name="denslow">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/03/tony-allen-obituary |title=Tony Allen obituary | first=Robin | last=Denselow|author-link=Robin Denselow|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=2020-05-03|access-date=2021-07-19}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He began playing drums at the age of 18, while working as an engineer for a radio station. Allen was influenced by music his father listened to: [[Jùjú music|Jùjú]], a popular [[Yoruba music|Yoruba]] music from the 1940s, but also American jazz, and the growing [[highlife]] scene in Nigeria and Ghana. Allen studied the recordings of jazz drummers including Art Blakey and Max Roach while developing his style,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Futterman |first=Gabriel |date=1 May 2020 |title=Tony Allen 1940–2020 |url=https://jazztimes.com/features/tributes-and-obituaries/tony-allen-1940-2020/ |magazine=JazzTimes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=30 June 2017 |title=Nigerian Drummer Tony Allen Revisits His Jazz Roots In A Salute To Art Blakey |url=https://www.ctpublic.org/2017-06-30/nigerian-drummer-tony-allen-revisits-his-jazz-roots-in-a-salute-to-art-blakey |work=Connecticut Public}}</ref> as well as Ghanaian drummer [[Guy Warren]] (later known as [[Kofi Ghanaba]] who pioneered Afro-jazz).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-09 |title=Kofi Ghanaba: Drummer who pioneered Afro-jazz |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/kofi-ghanaba-drummer-who-pioneered-afrojazz-1640302.html |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

Allen was hired by [[Victor Olaiya|"Sir" Victor Olaiya]] to play [[claves]] with his highlife band, the Cool Cats. Allen was able to fill the drum set chair when the former Cool Cats drummer left the band. Allen later played with Agu Norris and the Heatwaves, the Nigerian Messengers, and the Melody Makers.

==Fela and Africa '70==
In 1964, [[Fela Kuti]] invited Allen to audition for a jazz-highlife band he was forming. Kuti and Allen had played together as sidemen in the Lagos circuit. Fela complimented Allen's unique sound: "How come you are the only guy in Nigeria who plays like this – jazz and highlife?" Thus Allen became an original member of Kuti's "Koola Lobitos" highlife-jazz band.

In 1969, following a trip to the United States with Fela and Koola Lobitos,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-11 |title=Afrobeat legend Tony Allen on the political power of music |url=https://www.huckmag.com/article/afrobeat-legend-tony-allen-on-the-political-power-of-music |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Huck |language=en-GB}}</ref> Allen served as the musical director of Fela's band, Africa '70,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=2020-05-02|title=Tony Allen, Drummer Who Created the Beat of Afrobeat, Dies at 79|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/arts/music/tony-allen-dead.html|access-date=2020-05-03|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> which developed a new militant African sound, mixing the heavy groove of soul with jazz, highlife, and the [[polyrhythm]]ic template of Yoruba conventions.

Allen recounted how he and Fela wrote in 1970: "Fela used to write out the parts for all the musicians in the band (Africa '70). I was the only one who originated the music I played. Fela would ask what type of rhythm I wanted to play.… You can tell a good drummer because we… have four limbs… and they are… playing different things… the patterns don't just come from Yoruba… [but] other parts of Nigeria and Africa."<ref>Ewens, Graeme, ''Africa O-Ye!'', 1991.</ref>

Allen recorded more than 30 albums with Fela and Africa '70. But by the late 1970s, tensions were increasing among the members of Africa '70 over royalties and recognition.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Kalia |first=Ammar |last2=critic |first2=Global music |date=2020-05-01 |title=Tony Allen: the Afrobeat pioneer's 10 finest recordings |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/01/tony-allen-the-afrobeat-pioneers-10-finest-recordings |access-date=2026-03-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Fela did support Allen's three solo recordings: ''Jealousy'' (1975), ''Progress'' (1977), and ''No Accommodation For Lagos'' (1979),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Allen |first=Tony |date=2014-10-09 |title=Tony Allen: Fela Kuti, Damon Albarn and me |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/09/tony-allen-pulse-behind-afrobeat-fela-kuti-drummer |access-date=2026-03-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> but by 1979, Allen had chosen to leave Africa '70, taking many members with him.<ref name=":3" /> "'What makes me decide it's time to go? It's … everything...and (his) carelessness...like he doesn't care, like he doesn't know ...he doesn't feel he's done anything (wrong). And with all the parasites around too.... there were 71 people on tour by now and only 30 working in the band....you got to ask why. Those guys were sapping Fela of his Force, of his Music."<ref>{{cite book |last=Ewens |first=Graeme |title=Africa O-Ye!: A Celebration of African Music |publisher=Guinness Publishing |year=1991 |isbn=0851129773 |location=London}}</ref>

==Afrobeat to Afrofunk==
[[File:TonyAllen1988.jpg|thumb|Allen in 1988]]
Allen formed his own group, recording ''No Discrimination'' in 1980, and performing in Lagos until emigrating to London in 1984. Later moving to Paris, Allen recorded with [[King Sunny Adé]], [[Ray Lema]] and [[Manu Dibango]]. Allen recorded ''N.E.P.A.'' in 1985. Post-Fela, Allen’s work explored genres including Afro-funk, [[alternative rock]], avant-garde [[hip-hop]], [[electronic music]], and [[Dub music|dub]].<ref>{{cite web |date=12 September 2017 |title=Mind the Band: Tony Allen |url=https://www.afropop.org/articles/mind-the-band-tony-allen |website=Afropop Worldwide}}</ref>

Allen's 13th album, ''Lagos No Shaking'' (Lagos is OK) was released on 13 June 2006. Recorded live in Lagos, with a full-sized Afrobeat band, ''Lagos No Shaking'' marked Allen's return to more traditional [[Afrobeat]] sound.

==Later work==
Allen appeared on the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s compilation album ''[[Red Hot and Riot]]'' (2002) in tribute to [[Fela Kuti]].<ref>[http://www.redhot.org Red Hot Organization Red Hot] Retrieved 20 April 2022</ref> Allen appeared alongside [[Res (singer)|Res]], [[Ray Lema]], [[Baaba Maal]], [[Positive Black Soul]] and [[Archie Shepp]] on a track entitled "No Agreement."

Allen played drums throughout the 2003 album ''Love Trap'' by [[Susheela Raman]] and also performed with her live. Allen recorded album "Live/Tony Allen" (2004) also.<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-mw0000367136 Live/Tony Allen] Retrieved 19 April 2022</ref> In 2006, Allen joined [[Damon Albarn]], [[Paul Simonon]], and [[Simon Tong]] as drummer for the [[The Good, the Bad & the Queen|Good, the Bad & the Queen]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Murphy|date=2007-01-20|title=Songs of experience|language=en-GB|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3662657/Songs-of-experience.html|access-date=2020-04-16|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Allen contacted Albarn after hearing the 2000 single "[[Music Is My Radar]]" by Albarn's band [[Blur (band)|Blur]], which references him.<ref name=":2" /> They released their [[The Good, the Bad & the Queen (album)|self-titled debut album]] in 2007, followed by ''[[Merrie Land]]'' in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Young|first1=Alex|title=The Good The Bad & The Queen to release new album, Merrie Land, in November|url=https://consequence.net/2018/10/the-good-the-bad-the-queen-merrie-land-details/|access-date=18 October 2018|website=Consequence of Sound}}</ref> Allen and Albarn also collaborated on the 2012 album ''[[Rocket Juice & the Moon]]''.<ref name=":1" />

Allen played drums on two tracks on the 2007 album ''5:55'' by [[Charlotte Gainsbourg]]: "5:55" and "Night-Time Intermission", backed by French duo [[Air (French band)|Air]] and [[Jarvis Cocker]] of [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/sep/01/popandrock.shopping2 |title=Charlotte Gainsbourg "5:55"|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|date=21 September 2006|access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref> He also made an appearance playing the drums in the video for "[[Once Upon a Time (Air song)|Once Upon a Time]]" by French duo [[Air (French band)|Air]] in late 2007. He was a featured artist on [[Zap Mama]]'s albums ''Supermoon'' (2007) and ''ReCreation'' (2009), adding his voice to the tracks "1000 Ways" and "African Diamond." Allen also contributed drums on "People Dansa", an afrobeat rhythm-influenced track on the second album of the Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho, released in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNHZTAXLp5U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/RNHZTAXLp5U |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title="FLAVIA COELHO - Les Musiciens du 2e Album 'Mundo Meu'"|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His album ''Secret Agent'' was released in June 2009 by [[World Circuit (record label)|World Circuit]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/features/tony-allen/|title=Tony Allen|date=11 March 2009|website=Musicfeeds.com.au|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> He released ''A Tribute to Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers'' (2017), a four-song [[Extended play|EP]] on [[Blue Note Records]] featuring a reworked [[Afrobeat]] version of [[Art Blakey]]'s "[[Moanin' (song)|Moanin']]". In 2017, Allen collaborated with Malian singer [[Oumou Sangaré]] for the track "[[Mogoya|Yere faga]]" from her album ''[[Mogoya]]''.

Filmmaker [[Opiyo Okeyo]] released the documentary film ''Birth of Afrobeat'' (2019), about Allen's musical career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://afropop.org/articles/25th-new-york-african-film-festival-launches|title=25th New York African Film Festival Launches|website=[[Afropop Worldwide]]|last=Eyre|first=Banning|date=2018-05-17|access-date=2019-06-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/shorts-program-naija-stories-25th-new-york-african-film-festival-2017|title=The Nigerian Shorts Program at This Year's New York African Film Festival Challenges the Nollywood Status Quo|website=[[OkayAfrica]]|date=2018-05-21|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref> The film screened at [[American Black Film Festival]] and won the [[21st Century Fox]] Global Inclusion Award for Emerging Voices at the [[BlackStar Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gravitasventures.com/blackstar-qualifying-award-winners|title=BlackStar Qualifying Award Winners|work=[[Gravitas Ventures]]|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/american-black-film-festival-the-black-godfather-spike-lee-abff-hbo-short-film-competition-1202628311|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608022833/https://deadline.com/2019/06/american-black-film-festival-the-black-godfather-spike-lee-abff-hbo-short-film-competition-1202628311/|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 June 2019|title=American Black Film Festival To Feature 'The Black Godfather', Spike Lee, HBO Short Film Finalists And More|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=June 6, 2019|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref> Damon Albarn and Tony Allen and band performed at a concert in the Netherlands, among then the Lowlands Festival (2019). ''Birth of Afrobeat'' was acquired by [[American Public Television]] and had its television premiere January 20, 2020 on [[PBS]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/video/my-friend-fela-and-birth-of-afrobeat-sozeew/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201114011/https://www.pbs.org/video/my-friend-fela-and-birth-of-afrobeat-sozeew/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 February 2021|title=AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange | My Friend Fela and Birth of Afrobeat | Season 12 | Episode 1|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Pbs.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tony-allen-afrobeat-drum-patterns-unseen-doc-clip-993318|title=See Tony Allen Break Down Afrobeat's Major Drum Patterns in Unseen Doc Clip|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=May 3, 2020|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref>

Allen was featured on the [[Gorillaz]] track "[[How Far? (Gorillaz song)|How Far?]]" (2020) alongside [[Skepta]], as part of the band's ''[[Song Machine]]'' project. Allen contributed to seven tracks on the album ''[[Keleketla!]]'' (2020), a collaborative project co-ordinated by [[Johannesburg]]'s Keleketla Library and English electronic musicians [[Coldcut]], recorded in both Soweto and London.

Two posthumous Allen albums were released. ''There Is No End'' (2021) featured Allen on production alongside rappers and singers from around the world, including [[Danny Brown]], [[Nah Eeto]], and [[Sampa the Great]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony Allen: There Is No End |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tony-allen-there-is-no-end/|first=Tarisai|last=Ngangura|date=10 May 2021 |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Krcatovich |first=Dustin |title=There Is No End |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/there_is_no_end|date=28 April 2021 |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Undertheradarmag.com |language=en}}</ref> The second release after Allen's death was ''The Solution Is Restless'', a collaborative album featuring [[Joan As Police Woman]] and Dave Okumu. 2021 also saw the release of [[April March]]'s album ''In Cinerama'', which features Allen as a drummer; he is also credited for co-writing several tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sendra | first=Tim |title=''In Cinerama'' Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-cinerama-mw0003522458 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=[[AllMusic]]|language=en}}</ref> An EP Allen recorded with the [[Foals (band)|Foals]] singer [[Yannis Philippakis]], ''Yannis & the Yaw'', was released in August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |last2= |first2= |date=2024-04-17 |title=Yannis & The Yaw Unites Foals' Yannis Philippakis With Afrobeat Legend Tony Allen {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/yannis-the-yaw-unites-foals-yannis-philippakis-with-afrobeat-legend-tony-allen/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=[[Clash Magazine]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Death==
On 30 April 2020, Allen died of an abdominal [[aortic aneurysm]], aged 79, at [[Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou|Georges Pompidou European Hospital]] in Paris.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |author2=Elias Leight |title=Tony Allen, Pioneering Afrobeat Drummer, Dead at 79 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tony-allen-afrobeat-drummer-fela-kuti-dead-992588/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=1 May 2020 |date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> Tributes came from musicians and producers including [[Flea (musician)|Flea]], [[Peter Gabriel]], [[Jeff Mills]], [[Nigel Godrich]] and [[Sean Lennon]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-01 |title=Tributes paid to pioneering Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, who has died aged 79 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/pioneering-afrobeat-drummer-tony-allen-dead-79-2657461|first=Ali|last=Gallagher |access-date=2020-05-02 |website=Nme.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Damon Albarn]] said he was his "number one musical teacher" and that he would "never, ever play with anyone like him again".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sweeney |first=Eamon |title=Damon Albarn interview: 'I think my life has been a bit too colourful to be quite ready for an autobiography' |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/culture/damon-albarn-interview-i-think-my-life-has-been-a-bit-too-colourful-to-be-quite-ready-for-an-autobiography-756231e5 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=[[Business Post]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Discography==
; Solo discography and collaborations
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''Jealousy'' (with The Africa 70) (1975)
* ''Progress'' (with The Africa 70) (1977)
* ''No Accommodation for Lagos'' (with The Africa 70) (1979)
* ''No Discrimination'' (with The Afro Messengers) (1979)
* ''Never Expect Power Always'' (with Afrobeat 2000) (1985)
* ''Too Many Prisoners'' (with Zebra Crossing) (1987)
* ''Afrobeat Express'' (1989)
* ''Black Voices'' (1999)
* ''Black Voices Remixed'' (2000)
* ''HomeCooking'' (2002)
* ''Live'' (2004)
* ''Lagos No Shaking'' (2006)
* ''Secret Agent'' (2009)
* ''Inspiration Information 4'' (with [[Jimi Tenor]]) (2009)
* ''Black Voices Revisited'' (2010)
* ''Film of Life'' (2014)
* ''A Tribute to Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers'' (2014)
* ''[[The Source (Tony Allen album)|The Source]]'' (2017)
* ''OTO Live Series'' (with Jimi Tenor) (2018)
* ''Tomorrow Comes The Harvest'' (with [[Jeff Mills]]) (2018)
* ''[[Rejoice (Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela album)|Rejoice]]'' (with [[Hugh Masekela]]) (2020)
* ''There Is No End'' (2021)
* ''The Solution Is Restless'' (with [[Dave Okumu]] and [[Joan As Police Woman]]) (2021)
* ''Jazz is Dead 18'' (with [[Adrian Younge]]) (2023)
* ''La Boa Meets Tony Allen'' (with La Boa) (2025)
{{div col end}}

;with Fela Kuti & The Africa 70
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''[[Fela's London Scene]]'' (1970)
* ''[[Live! (Fela Kuti album)|Live!]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Why Black Man Dey Suffer]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Open & Close]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Roforofo Fight]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Shakara (album)|Shakara]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Afrodisiac (Fela Kuti album)|Afrodisiac]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Gentleman (Fela Kuti album)|Gentleman]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Confusion (album)|Confusion]]'' (1974)
* ''He Miss Road'' (1974)
* ''Alagbon Close'' (1975)
* ''Everything Scatter'' (1975)
* ''Excuse O'' (1975)
* ''[[Expensive Shit]]'' (1975)
* ''Monkey Banana'' (1975)
* ''Noise For Vendor Mouth'' (1975)
* ''Ikoyi Blindness'' (1976)
* ''Kalakuta Show'' (1976)
* ''[[Na Poi]]'' (1976)
* ''Unnecessary Begging'' (1976)
* ''Upside Down'' (1976)
* ''Yellow Fever'' (1976)
* ''Fear Not For Man'' (1977)
* ''J.J.D – Live at Kalakuta Republik'' (1977)
* ''[[No Agreement]]'' (1977)
* ''Opposite People'' (1977)
* ''[[Sorrow Tears and Blood]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Shuffering and Shmiling]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Stalemate (Fela Kuti album)|Stalemate]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Zombie (album)|Zombie]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Unknown Soldier (Fela Kuti album)|Unknown Soldier]]'' (1979)
* ''V.I.P.'' (1979)
* ''Music of Many Colours'' (1980)
* ''I Go Shout Plenty'' (1986, recorded in 1977)
{{div col end}}

; Other appearances
* Various - ''Racubah! – A Collection of Modern Afro Rhythms'' ("Afro-Disco-Beat") (1999)
* Various - ''Afrobeat...No Go Die!'' ("The Same Blood") (2000)
* [[Ernest Ranglin]] - ''Modern Answers To Old Problems'' (2000)
* Doctor L - ''Mountains Will Never Surrender'' (2000)
* Various - ''The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble'' (2001)
* Psyco On Da Bus - ''Psyco On Da Bus'' (2001)
* Various Artists - ''[[Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti]]'' (2002)
* Bababatteur - ''Awa Band'' (2004)
* New Cool Collective - ''Trippin'' (2006)
* [[The Good, the Bad & the Queen]] - ''[[The Good, the Bad & the Queen (album)|The Good, the Bad & the Queen]]'' (2007)
* [[Charlotte Gainsbourg]] - ''[[5:55]]'' (2007)
* Snoop Dogg & Gorillaz - "Doggumentary" (Snoop Dogg album) (featured on "Sumthin' Like This Night") (2010)
* [[Rocket Juice & the Moon]] - ''Rocket Juice & the Moon'' (2012)
* Various - ''[[The Rough Guide to African Disco]]'' ("Love Is A Natural Thing") (2013)
* [[Chicago Afrobeat Project]] - ''What Goes Up'' (2017)
* [[Gonjasufi]] - ''[[Mandela Effect (album)|Mandela Effect]]'' (featured artist on "Etherwave") (2017)
* The Good, the Bad & the Queen - ''[[Merrie Land]]'' (2018)
* Keleketla - ''[[Keleketla!]]'' (2020)
* [[Gorillaz]] and [[Skepta]] - ''[[Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez]] (Deluxe Edition)'' (featured on "[[How Far?]]") (2020)
* [[April March]] - ''In Cinerama'' (2021)
* [[Yannis Philippakis|Yannis & The Yaw]] - ''Lagos Paris London'' (2024)
* [[The Last Poets]] & The Egypt 80 - ''Africanism'' (2024)
* Gorillaz – ''[[The Mountain (Gorillaz album)|The Mountain]]'' (featured on "The Hardest Thing") (2026)

==See also==
* [[Femi Kuti]]
* [[Seun Kuti]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic}}
* {{Bandcamp}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{MusicBrainz artist}}

{{The Good, the Bad & the Queen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Tony}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Nigerian male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Nigerian male musicians]]
[[Category:Africa '70 members]]
[[Category:Afrobeat musicians]]
[[Category:Astralwerks artists]]
[[Category:Highlife musicians]]
[[Category:Jazz bandleaders]]
[[Category:Jazz drummers]]
[[Category:Koola Lobitos members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Lagos]]
[[Category:Musicians from Paris]]
[[Category:Nigerian bandleaders]]
[[Category:Nigerian drummers]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Nigerian jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Nigerian people of Ghanaian descent]]
[[Category:The Good, the Bad & the Queen members]]
[[Category:World Circuit (record label) artists]]
[[Category:Wrasse Records artists]]
[[Category:Yoruba musicians]]
[[Category:Rocket Juice & the Moon members]]

Tony Allen - Revision history

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