Afrobeat Music

Afrobeat is a West African musical style closely associated with Fela Kuti and the bands he led in Nigeria. It grew from a meeting of highlife, jazz and funk, with layered rhythms, recurring guitar and keyboard patterns, prominent brass and an emphasis on extended ensemble playing.

A performance often develops through repeated instrumental figures before the voice enters. The music can sustain a dance groove while making room for improvisation, call-and-response and pointed social commentary. Drummer Tony Allen was a central collaborator in the development of Fela’s band sound.

Fela’s Water No Get Enemy and Zombie offer two distinct starting points. Their patient rhythmic construction and collective instrumental detail make Afrobeat a useful category alongside the broader labels of funk and jazz.