Seun Kuti and the fiery / deeply grooved politically raised fists and joyful Afrobeat dance of "Na Dem"

 

"Yeye politician / Wey dey constitute nuisance / Ori mi save me from the users / Humanity abusers / I no like nonsense..."

The fiery deeply grooved politically raised fists and joyful Afrobeat dance of "Na Dem" by iconic Nigerian artist Seun Kuti, in collaboration with Egypt80 and Tom Morello, deepens exponentially each time you experience it. Feeling so deeply organic, historic, grounded in the earth of freedom, the track feels deeper and deeper upon each listen. As produced by Femi Koleoso (Ezra Collective), the intersectional embrace of dense percussions, absolutely compelling anchoring drum beats and bass pulls, orchestrations of horns and Morello's potently artful guitar licks throughout is absolutely masterful (the guitar / trumpet back and forth shines) as a sonic framework for Kuti's vocal countenance, passionately charged, morally centered and fluidly poised, is magnetic as his blend of singing, chanting, rapping forms a critical diatribe about systemic inequality, about those who choose to profit and climb on mounds of money and on the masses below them who are suffering, who are being trampled on, lied to, cheated and gaslit as history unfortunately repeats. 

LINER NOTES (excerpted / bracketed):

[The track is a searing critique of systemic inequality and those who profit from the suffering of the masses. Throughout the song, Seun Kuti, along with legendary guitarist Tom Morello, repeatedly calls out "winch men" (a Nigerian Pidgin term for wicked or manipulative people). When he points out that it is them (Na dem) causing the society's problems, he is explicitly identifying the elite—including presidents, senators, and corrupt religious leaders—as the ones destroying health, education, and the livelihoods of everyday people.]

[A cry for salvation from the political evils in the world, Kuti sings "All this winch men, with their winchy way. Dem go dey do like winch do. Dem winch left winch right winch me, winch you," ending with the plea, "Save me from the winch men."]

I am truly loving Kuti's vocal patter like a street activist's rebel yell and the shouty call backs of "Na Dem" from the "all of us" perspective as those in the street impacting change (in any way we can).  

credits
released June 3, 2026
Produced by Femi Koleoso
Engineer & Mixed by Riley MacIntyre
Mastered by Stuart Hawkes at Metropolis Studio, London

Seun Kuti - voice, sax
Tom Morello - solo guitar
Edidiong Blessing Eshiet - backing vocals
Anis Benhallak - guitar
Tobi Adenaike - guitar
James Mollison - saxophone
Fabrice Fila - saxophone and backing vocals
Nicolas Julien Sakelario - Baritone Sax and backing vocals
Jermaine Amissah - Baritone Sax
Chris Olusesi - Keys
Kunle Justice - Bass
Gbeke Ojutiku - Bass
Will Fry - percussion
Valentin Pellet - trumpet
Ben Amissah- trumpet
Mario Orsinet - drums
Femi Koleoso - drums


ABOUT

[Seun Kuti has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father's political and musical legacy as the leader of his father's former band Egypt 80. As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. In 1997 when Fela Kuti, in fulfilment of his father's wishes, Seun assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80 and he has run it ever since. During his career, Seun Kuti released 4 albums with Egypt 80: ‘ Many Things’ (2008), ‘From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records’ (2011), coproduced by Brian Eno and John Reynolds, ‘A Long Way Beginning’ (2014) and the Grammy nominated ‘Black Times’ (2018) that included a feature from Carlos Santana. They also released numerous EPs. Seun has played for enthusiastically receptive audiences globally and collaborated with many great artists. In 2022, he joined forces with Roots frontman and MC extraordinaire Black Thought in the EP ‘African Dreams’. In 2023, Seun collaborated on Janelle Monae's ‘The Age of Pleasure’ (Grammy nominee for Album Of The Year) with the two singles 'Float' and 'Knows Better', teamed up with Talib Kweli and MadLib for their album ‘Liberation 2’ on the song ‘Nat Turner’ featuring Cassper Nyovest and released a new version of the single ‘Bad Man Lighter’ with Black Thought, featuring Vic Mensa.]

The Chicken Wheel will take you to the AP Go Fund Me- and any amount is so appreciated!

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1GQur7dDvAWhKT9u9YwBJZ

https://www.instagram.com/bigbirdkuti

https://www.facebook.com/seunkutiofficial/

https://linktr.ee/seunkutitour

https://seunkutiegypt80.bandcamp.com/track/na-dem-feat-tom-morello



Seun Kuti has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father's political and musical legacy as the leader of his father's former band Egypt 80. As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. In 1997 when Fela Kuti, in fulfilment of his father's wishes, Seun assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80 and he has run it ever since. During his career, Seun Kuti released 4 albums with Egypt 80: ‘ Many Things’ (2008), ‘From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records’ (2011), coproduced by Brian Eno and John Reynolds, ‘A Long Way Beginning’ (2014) and the Grammy nominated ‘Black Times’ (2018) that included a feature from Carlos Santana. They also released numerous EPs. Seun has played for enthusiastically receptive audiences globally and collaborated with many great artists. In 2022, he joined forces with Roots frontman and MC extraordinaire Black Thought in the EP ‘African Dreams’. In 2023, Seun collaborated on Janelle Monae's ‘The Age of Pleasure’ (Grammy nominee for Album Of The Year) with the two singles 'Float' and 'Knows Better', teamed up with Talib Kweli and MadLib for their album ‘Liberation 2’ on the song ‘Nat Turner’ featuring Cassper Nyovest and released a new version of the single ‘Bad Man Lighter’ with Black Thought, featuring Vic Mensa.



Seun Kuti, Afrobeat, politico, world music, songwriter, vocalist, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, leader of Egypt80, produced by Femi Koleoso, new single "Na Dem", guitarist Tom Morello collaboration, soulful rhythms,