Newen Afrobeat

Newen Afrobeat is an Afrobeat band that started in 2009 in Chile. Newen Afrobeat revisits Fela Kuti's musical heritage. The word Newén means 'strength' in the Mapuche language.

History
Newen Afrobeat was founded in 2009 by the Chilean composer and singer Nicholás Urbina, who composed the music for the first, eponymous, album released in 2013. The intro of the first song Santiago incorporates parts of José Mujica's speech originally delivered in front of the 2013 UN General Assembly.

Urbina relocated to the United States in the mid-2010s. The group's last concert with Urbina was at the Felabration Festival in Lagos in 2016 (founded by Yeni Kuti in 1998).

Without Urbina the group continued after various member changes and reformed into a collective releasing the EP Newen Plays Fela in 2017.

A third album, Curiche (a Mapuchian word meaning 'black person'), was released in February 2019.

The EP Newen Plays Fela Vol. II was released in 2021.

In March 2024, Newen Afrobeat released the EP GRIETAS.

Style
Their style finds its inspiration in the Nigerian Afrobeat of Fela Kuti and their repertoire includes a number of Kuti's titles. Their music is also influenced by the aboriginal roots of their own country. Their songs celebrate the environment, indigenous rights, women's empowerment, and multiculturalism. Newen Afrobeat's live performances are also demonstrations in support of the Mapuche cause.

Albums

 * Newen Afrobeat (2014)
 * Newen Plays Fela (EP) (2017)
 * Curiche (2019)
 * Newen Plays Fela Vol. II (EP) (2021)
 * GRIETAS (EP) (2024)

Singles

 * Chaltumay (2018)
 * Open Your Eyes feat. Oghene Kologbo (2019)
 * Cántaros (2019)
 * No Les Creeré (2020)
 * Somos el presente (feat. Joe Vasconcellos) (2023)
 * Mare Mare (feat. Dele Sosimi) (2023)
 * Grietas (feat. Lido Pimienta) (2023)
 * Es la vida (feat. Chico Cesar) (2024)