RIP. 
I didn't know of him but it seems I have heard him plenty. If that makes sense.
He was Fela Kuti's drummer in Nigeria back in the 70's and they started the whole Afrobeat movement. Very exciting music.
His solo stuff is well worth checking out as it's his recent work with Damon Albarn of Blur and Paul simonon of The Clash in The Good, The Bad & The Queen.