Pioneering Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, a co-founder of the afrobeat musical genre, died in Paris on Thursday aged 79, his manager says. Eric Trosset told NPR radio that he had died of a heart attack. AFP said his death was not linked to coronavirus. Allen was the drummer and musical director of musician Fela Kuti's famous band Africa '70 in the 1960-70s. Fela, as he was widely known, died in 1997. He once said that "without Tony Allen, there would be no afrobeat". Allen has also been described by UK musician Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived". Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, who spent time with Allen in London, called him "one of the greatest drummers to ever walk this earth" and described him as his "hero".

Beninois singer Angelique Kidjo told the BBC's Newsday programme that she had been hit hard by both Allen's death and the passing of Cameroonian saxophone legend Manu Dibango in March. Allen, who was born in Lagos in 1940, taught himself how to play drums when he was 18. He said he learnt his technique by listening closely to American jazz drummers Art Blakey and Max Roach.