ARTIST GUIDE · AFROBEAT

Fela Kuti

A Nigerian bandleader who forged Afrobeat from highlife, funk, jazz and political critique.

Why Fela Kuti matters

A Nigerian bandleader who forged Afrobeat from highlife, funk, jazz and political critique. The strongest way to understand the work is through recordings rather than reputation alone: notice the relationship between writing, performance, arrangement and the technology of the period.

Where to start

Choose one long track and follow how each instrumental layer enters the groove.

01

Begin with a defining album

Hear it in sequence before building a playlist.

02

Change the period

Choose an earlier or later record and compare the artistic choices.

03

Follow the credits

Producers, players, writers and labels open the next path.

PHYSICAL LISTENING

Find Fela Kuti on vinyl

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Afrobeat

A Nigerian-born fusion of highlife, jazz, funk and politically direct songwriting.