This article is about the 1960s genre defined by Fela Kuti. For the 21st century genre of West African pop music, see Afrobeats.
Afrobeat
Stylistic origins
West African music
highlife
Yoruba music
Igbo music
funk
jazz
soul
fuji music
Afro-Cuban music
Cultural origins
1960s, Nigeria
Typical instruments
Bass guitar
sakara drum
drums
guitar
horns
Hammond organ
keyboards
percussion
Ogene
saxophone
shekere
vocals
[citation needed]
Derivative forms
Afrobeats
Regional scenes
Nigeria
Afrobeat (also known as Afrofunk[citation needed]) is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles from mainly Nigeria such as the traditional Yoruba and Igbo music and highlife with American funk, jazz, and soul influences.[1] With a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms, and percussion.[2] The style was pioneered in the 1960s by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who is most known for popularizing the style both within and outside Nigeria. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers."[3]
Distinct from Afrobeat is Afrobeats, a combination of sounds originating in West Africa in the 21st century. This takes on diverse influences and is an eclectic combination of genres such as hip hop, house, jùjú, ndombolo, R&B, soca, and dancehall.[4][5][6][7][8][9] The two genres, though often conflated, are not the same, as Afrobeats is rather just the amalgamation of Afrobeat.[5][6]
Seun Kuti during an Afrobeat performance[8]
^Staff (16 July 2021). "Guide to Afrobeat Music: A Brief History of Afrobeat". Masterclass. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
^Grass, Randall F. "Fela AnikulaThe Art of an Afrobeat Rebel". The Drama Review: TDR. MIT Press. 30: 131–148.
^"Fela Kuti", Wikipedia, 11 November 2023, retrieved 13 November 2023
^Khamis, Laura (October 2019). "8 Afrobeats collaborations linking the UK with Africa". Red Bull. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
^ abScher, Robin (6 August 2015). "Afrobeat(s): The Difference a Letter Makes". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
^ abStarling, Lakin. "10 Ghanaian Afrobeats Artists You Need To Know". The Fader. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
^Phillips, Yoh. "WizKid Affiliate Mr Eazi's Journey From Tech Startup to Afrobeats Stardom". DJBooth. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
^ abKhan, Ahmad (21 September 2017). "A Conversation with the Queen of Afrobeats: Tiwa Savage". HuffPost. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
^Smith, Caspar Llewellyn (23 June 2012). "I'm with D'Banj". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
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