Some 20 years ago in Lagos, Nigeria, a bare-chested man with a saxophone stood in front of a big dance band and exhorted crowds to fight corruption.

Last night his youngest son did the same. Part prankster, part politico, Seun Kuti blasted alto sax riffs, sang lyrics in Pidgin English, delivered a rousing pro‑Africa diatribe.

At just 26, having fronted his father’s Afrobeat juggernaut Egypt 80 since the age of 15, Seun Kuti is channelling the charisma and energy of his iconic dad. He did so earlier this year at the Barbican, a venue that was too austere for his earthy, sweaty mix of funk, jazz and African rhythms.

In this more intimate setting, preceded by the Fela Kuti remixes of DJ Eric Soul, Kuti went off like a bullet.

Surrounded by seasoned elders on horns, keyboards, guitars and a giant conga beaten with what looked like baseball bats, Kuti covered his father’s songs (Army Arrangement, Shuffering and Shmiling) before cherry-picking from his acclaimed debut, Many Things.

In between he told jokes, involved us in some lively call-and-response and, ever his father’s son, admired his backing dancer’s gyrating nyash (backside). Encores finished, he raised his fists in the air like a prize fighter.