Lekan Animashaun

Lekan Animashaun is a Nigerian baritone saxophonist, composer, and a foundational figure in the development of Afrobeat. Joining Fela Kuti's Koola Lobitos in 1965, his presence remained a constant through the band's evolutions into Afrika 70 and Egypt 80. Animashaun's deep, resonant saxophone lines provided a harmonic anchor to the elaborate horn arrangements that defined the genre. In 1978, he assumed the role of musical director, shaping the band's sound and ensuring its operational continuity through turbulent periods. Following Kuti's death, he continued to lead Egypt 80, mentoring Seun Kuti and securing the band's legacy, thereby cementing his status as an essential architect of Afrobeat.