USA / 2018 / 7mins / Animation, Documentary / English

In September of 2017, 77 year old Nigerian drummer Tony Allen was invited to record the album What Goes Up with American band, Chicago Afrobeat Project. During their time together, Allen recounts how he and his partner, late music legend, Fela Kuti, created the Afrobeat genre in Lagos, Nigeria. In this hybrid live-action/animated film, director Opiyo Okeyo presents a snapshot of Tony Allen’s story.

Opiyo Okeyo

Opiyo Okeyo is a filmmaker from Pasadena, California with a digital marketing background. Opiyo graduated from Howard University and began his career as an editor at Discovery Channel. He is the founder of Rest in Beats, a Brooklyn-based creative production that has produced projects with musicians such as Pharrell Williams and Ahmad Jamal, among others. His work has appeared on VH1, History Channel, MTV, People.com, National Geographic and PBS. Birth of Afrobeat is his directorial debut. Learn More