Evolution and Innovations: Afrobeats

Afrobeats

Afrobeats is an umbrella genre. It covers genres like afrobeat, afro-punk and afro-funk. This genre can be easily recognized by its singers' West African accents and smooth blends of Ghanaian, local slang, English and Pidgin English and Nigerian languages. Afrobeats often show use of the call and response technique, as well as chanting in their songs. This adds to the infectious nature of this genre. The nature of afrobeats is inviting and comforting. This genre offers me a sense of spiritual bonding and connection to other people. 

Origin of Afro beats

Afrobeats originates in the 1960s in Nigeria with a man named Feld Kuti. Kuti would become known as the "King of Afrobeats". His music was influenced by many different genres, some being: Fuji, Juju and Highlife. Kuti also incorporated Yoruba vocal traditions, instruments as well as rhythm. 

Kuti eventually left Lagos to study music in London, here is where he was exposed to Jazz for the first time. This was the first turning point for Kuti's music. 

Jazz Break!

Jazz originated in the second half of the 19th century. Because New Orleans was a melting pot not only in terms of people, but as well as music genres and influences. Jazz was a Black American dominated genre, and this form of music came from New Orleans partially because it was the only place in America that permitted slaves to own drums at the time. 

Once Kuti returned to Lagos he incorporated Jazz into his music and came out with a Jazz Hybrid. unfortunately, this progression resulted in little to no success. In 1969 Kuti met Sandra Smith, an afro-sporting dancer who was also a Black Panther. Smith introduced Kuti to the civil rights movement and his enlightenment contributed to a reshaping of his music. Because Kuti was now aware of the trials and tribulations of Black Americans and what their music represented, he wanted to make a clear distinction between his own and that of Black Americans. 

Fela Kuti lived an eventful 58 years on this earth. Kuti produced about 50 albums. He had three children with one of the 28 wives he had. He was a musically political activist who was arrested at least 200 times and beaten brutally numerous times. All of these events went into his music. 

Instrument Association

Instruments commonly used in Afrobeats include bass guitar, Hammond organ, keyboards, saxophones, trumpets and drums (specifically snare, bass and conga). 

Make New Friends but Definitely Keep the Old. 

Old Friends

Many of the songs that Fela Kuti released were longer than most songs. They could range from 15 to 30 minutes for one song. His work was a literal form of musical expression. What his songs were about were politically driven, he expressed his passion through music very clearly, that is not up for debate. Though this form of music was and remains unconventional, it is still powerful raw expression through music which should always be appreciated. In my exploration of his music, I found this gem! My favorite of what I have heard from Kuti, the song International Thief Thief. 

I.T.T. (International Thief Thief):

New Friends

Now and days Afrobeats are much more consumable for a wider range of audiences. Lyrics are not often as political as Kuti's works, but still remain powerful in other ways. While its admittedly more easily digestible in current times, that does not take away from its uniqueness. 

Two of my favorite recent songs are Blessings by Victor Thompson and Gunna 

 and People by Labianca. 

Blessings:

This afrobeats gospel song is my favorite song at the moment, its encouraging and motivational as well as catchy. I listen to it to start my days and pick me up when I fall a little low. It has a BPM of 66 beats per minute but can also be played double at 136 beats per minute and is in the key of A. 

People:

Sources

“Afrobeats.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrobeats.

Cohen, Aaron. “A Brief History of Afrobeats.” Teen Vogue, Teen Vogue, 19 July 2019, www.teenvogue.com/story/afrobeat-history.

Fela Kuti - Death, Zombie & Songs - Biography, www.biography.com/musicians/fela-kuti. Accessed 28 Oct. 2023.

The History of Afrobeat Music – Boysetsfire, www.boysetsfire.net/the-history-of-afrobeat-music/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2023.