In the late 1960s, Nigerian jazz musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, drew inspiration from the soul, R&B, and jazz music he’d heard in America and the UK. Through the formation of his band, Fela and the Afrika 70, Fela fused these styles with forms of African highlife, juju, and fuji music. The end result was the birth of a funky, new African genre known as afrobeat. Big bands with brass sections, African percussion, backup dancers and singers, jazz and funk - all typified afrobeat style. Improvisational lyrics and instrumentals often characterized lengthy songs. 

Afrobeat arose during the final years of the Biafran War in Nigeria and coincided with the civil rights and Black Power movements in the United States. The music and lyrics were fueled by political thought and vivid expression gleaned through Fela’s personal experiences while traveling and touring. To fans, Fela personified a notorious commentator who spoke for human rights and African unity against violence and government corruption. The vocal message was heard and resonated with audiences wanting to enjoy life and freedom in their own nations.

Contributed by: Ibukun Olude