By Lisa Vives
With Fela Kuti, drummer Tony Allen created the Afrobeat sound
Pioneering drummer for many decades, Tony Allen was a musical partner of the Nigerian singer, composer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. He passed away in Paris at age 79.
Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela’s band Africa ’70 and was one of the primary co-founders of the Afrobeat sound.
As Fela sharpened his attacks on corruption in politics, Allen took a different direction, collaborating with many of the world’s top musicians. This year, Allen released Rejoice, a CD of music he created with late South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.
“Rest In Power to Tony Allen, The Godfather of Afrobeat Rhythms,” wrote Nigerian-American rapper Jidenna on Twitter. “Thank you for giving us the sound that would change our lives and our destiny as a people.”
Prof Mohamed Hyder, first Kenyan PhD marine scientist
Kenya’s first PhD marine scientist, Prof Mohamed Hyder, died at his home in Kizingo, Mombasa, after a long illness. The 88-year-old leaves behind a wife and three children.
After completing his undergraduate work at Makerere University, Professor Hyder moved to Scotland where he took up biology, which was his passion.
While teaching at Makerere, he conducted research in marine life and fisheries. He later got a job at the University of Nairobi where he set up and headed the College of Biological Sciences.
“Mombasa mourns the loss of one of its great sons,” commented Mombasa Gov. Hassan Joho.
“A great scholar and known to many across the world for his knowledge, wisdom, kindness and humility.”
Communication scientist Julius Kirigha, who also wrote a film about Hyder, added: “His contributions in the field of academics were great and we wish he could have stayed longer.”
ANC military leader who shared prison time with Madiba passes
One time ANC military Denis Goldberg was one of Nelson Mandela’s two co-defendants from the 1963-64 Rivonia trial at which 10 men were on trial for their lives for conspiring to overthrow the apartheid regime by force.
Goldberg was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside Mandela for the crime of sabotage, serving 22 years at Pretoria Central prison, rather than Robben Island because of his color.
He was a mainstay of the ANC’s military operation in Cape Town, obtaining bomb ingredients and instructing recruits on how to handle them. After the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, he was recruited by Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC, and took part in its campaign of sabotage against installations and rose to run its first military training camp.
He fought against corruption but for years only within the ANC. Eventually, on a visit to London in 2016 to receive the freedom of the City of London, he publicly called on the Zuma government to resign.
His last campaign was to create the House of Hope, an arts and educational center in Hout Bay for deprived children, to which he left his collection of vibrant African art.
He died at his home near Cape Town. He was 87.
