As the youngest son of Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti started formally playing in his father’s band Egypt 80 before he turned 12, and when Fela passed in 1997, Seun fulfilled his father’s wishes to preserve his musical and political legacy as the leader of the band. Next month, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 will release a deluxe version of their latest, Lenny Kravitz–produced album Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head), including new collaborations with De La Soul’s Pos, Alborosie, Sampa the Great, Adi Oasis, Kamasi Washington, and more.
In support of the album, Egypt 80 is in the midst of an extensive North American tour, which included dates at both weekends of Coachella and a mid-week sideshow in Los Angeles at The Roxy. Photographer Jake Rich has been traveling with the band, and captured a series of intimate backstage shots and live imagery of his Coachella week experience for FLOOD, using an array of formats including a Polaroid OneStep SE F 600, real disposable cameras, and a Sony Alpha 7R IV.
Take a look at the photos with the band’s captions below, listen to the just-released version of “Move” featuring Kamasi Washington here, and find remaining Egypt 80 tour dates here.
COACHELLA
Stepping out into the heat.
Blessed Princess Cynthia
Blue Dream
Cynthia & Seun
Seun warms up in his trailer.
Reunited with former Egypt 80 drummer, Frank Moka.
Alto & Tenor // Seun & Fab
Egypt 80 bassist, Kunle Justice, meets the son of his former bandmate, trumpet player for Thee Sacred Souls
Big Bird & The Goodyear Blimp
Stand Well Well
The Universal Language
Princess Cynthia’s Aura
Valentin, Fab, Nicolas
Cynthia & The Revolution
Egypt 80
Mario on the drums.
Hot Wind Blows
Coachella camera closeup
Supernatural Light
Hot Stage, Cold Water
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80’s manager, Carmine, backstage with Teyana Taylor
THE ROXY
The Roxy LA
Gary Dourdan, Seun Kuti, Duain Richmond, and Mario Van Peebles at The Roxy
It’s Cynthia’s staircase, we’re just climbing it.
Gary Dourdan, James Trussart, Seun Kuti
Big Bird & Jake Rich self portrait
He’s a Problem
He’s a Problem
Cynthia Shines
That Seun
Beings of Light
Back 2 Back
Grand Finale
