At one point in his career, King Sunny Adé (or KSA, as Nigerians know him) was touted as the next Bob Marley—by the reggae great’s record label Island, no less. But aside from musical heroism in the face of oppressive conditions, the two couldn’t be more different. Born to royalty, Adé chose a life in the rough-and-tumble juju scene and emerged as Nigeria’s No. 1 guitarist and bandleader during the ’70s.

Adé’s more streetwise funk has become increasingly smooth over the years. His recent, 119th album (no lie), Seven Degrees North, has everything Adé’s known for: deep layers of instrumentation, an international flair and upbeat lyrical nods to the Yoruban faith. This time out, he kicks out some Brazilian-inspired jams. With his hands in the pro-democracy movement and various efforts to do honest business in Nigeria, he doesn’t pass through too often.

The late Fela Kuti, Nigeria’s political funkster, has at least two musical progenies touring the globe at any moment. Eldest son Femi chased mainstream success with a forced pop crossover effort, Fight to Win. His younger brother, Seun, leads Dad’s band Egypt 80 in gruff classic Afrobeat that’s an eerily spot-on revival.

Sibling pressure may not be a bad thing for Femi. Last year’s Day by Day is Femi’s most focused effort to date and his most political. Tracks like “You Better Ask Yourself” pose pointed questions about the economic divide, while “Demo Crazy” spells out Africa’s ongoing challenges with awesome stabs of percussion and organ.

Kuti, who surely won a few young fans as a radio host on the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, may not have his father’s fire, but he’s finally striking the right balance among a more cosmopolitan identity, conscious lyrics and Afrobeat’s rhythmic fundamentals. And he’s found a killer touring mate.