NewMusic
Discover Afrobeat
Explore Afrobeat music, its polyrhythmic grooves, horn arrangements, landmark artists and connections with contemporary African sounds.
What is Afrobeat music?
Afrobeat combines interlocking rhythms, jazz-informed horns, funk bass lines and extended arrangements into music with deep physical momentum. Songs often leave room for instrumental conversation and socially engaged lyrics.
Origins
Afrobeat took shape in Nigeria and Ghana during the late 1960s and 1970s, most famously through Fela Kuti and drummer Tony Allen, drawing on highlife, jazz, funk and Yoruba musical traditions.
The sound
Layered percussion, repeating guitar figures, powerful horn sections, call-and-response vocals and long-form grooves give classic Afrobeat its distinctive drive.
Culture and influence
The genre has a strong history of political expression and Pan-African thought. Its rhythmic language continues to influence jazz, dance music, hip-hop and artists around the world.
Key characteristics
- polyrhythms
- horn sections
- extended grooves
- call and response
- social commentary
Explore related genres
About Afrobeat music
What defines Afrobeat music?
Layered percussion, repeating guitar figures, powerful horn sections, call-and-response vocals and long-form grooves give classic Afrobeat its distinctive drive.
Where did Afrobeat music come from?
Afrobeat took shape in Nigeria and Ghana during the late 1960s and 1970s, most famously through Fela Kuti and drummer Tony Allen, drawing on highlife, jazz, funk and Yoruba musical traditions.
What should I listen for?
Listen for polyrhythms, horn sections, extended grooves, call and response, social commentary. The genre has a strong history of political expression and Pan-African thought. Its rhythmic language continues to influence jazz, dance music, hip-hop and artists around the world.