THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Afrobeat master Femi Kuti may have broken the world record for the longest single note held on a saxophone.
He is said to have attained the feat on Sunday (7 May) at the New Africa Shrine in Lagos as shared by his sister, Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, on her Instagram page @yenikuti.
“This evening 7th May at the New Africa Shrine, Femi Kuti broke the world record for the longest single note on a saxophone note set in 1997 by Kenny G. The record stood at 45mins 37 seconds….Femi did 46mins 38seconds!! Give it up, we have a world champ. This was witnessed by a large audience that included Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce, the deputy high commissioners of Netherlands and The United Kingdom.“
The record was previously first set in December, 1997 by legendary saxophonist Kenny G when he held an E-Flat for over 45 minutes. The American was reported to have used a technique called Circular Breathing, which keeps a steady stream of air flowing through the saxophone even as the player breathes.
For Femi Kuti, it is unclear yet what technique he used or even the member of the sax family he used to achieve the massive feat.
He started playing the sax when he was 15 and joined his father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s band “The Egypt 80.” He later formed his own band, “Positive Force’’ in the late 80s.
Femi, four-time Grammy award nominee who is skilled on other musical instruments including the trumpet and the piano, now awaits an official recognition by the Guinness World Record..
Kola Tella
