Summary

Afrobeat was created by Nigerian superstar Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in 1963. The genre will not become popular until his recordings in the 1970s when Afrobeat became popular in Nigeria and the rest of the world. By the ‘80s, his genre became well established, and he became revered for his musical ingenuity and political activism. Afrobeat is primarily rooted in Highlife, synthesized with African American musical forms like funk (particularly that of James Brown) and Jazz.

Influences
 
History

Afrobeat began with highlife, created in Ghana by combining West African regional music with Western Jazz and calypso. Fela Aníkúlápó-Kuti began his career playing in Highlife and Jazz bands before incorporating other sounds like Soul, Jazz, Soca, Funk, and R&B during various tours of America and the United Kingdom.
A combination of these music styles formed the creation of Afrobeat.
Fela went on to start his band, Nigeria 70 (later Africa 70), debuting Afrobeat in the early 1970s. Fela established the Afrobeat sound in his debut album. The album mixes Jazz and Highlife music with the epic Funk of James Brown. His creation also incorporated some elements of Reggae, Caribbean rhythm, and Psychedelic Rock. 
Fela sang in Pidgin English, English, and Yoruba. He led the band mostly on the saxophone, keyboards, and other instruments.
The theme of Afrobeat is political and addresses social issues in Nigeria. Fela remained relevant until he died in 1997. His son, Seun, renamed the band Egypt 80 and continued in his father's footsteps. Fela's first son, Femi Kuti, also continued the Afrobeat legacy.

Elements
 
Form and Style

Afrobeat draws stylistic influences from Jazz and Highlife genres. However, its most distinguishing style is a military band marching form expressed by a unique brass section. The military band marching style also contributes to the sharpness of Afrobeat's timbre.

Singing Style

Afrobeat is traditionally performed in the call and response singing style used in much of African folklore. The lead singer, until recently only male, usually sings a line, and backup singers, usually female singers, respond in non-harmonious choruses.

Theme

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the creator of Afrobeat, was a social and political activist. He expressed his activism through music, and the activism theme characterizes Afrobeat to date.

Culture

Afrobeat was shaped by the activism culture that was prevalent in Kalakuta Republic - a nomenclature Fela used to describe the geographical boundaries that enclosed his shrine in Ikeja, Lagos. Afrobeat was also shaped by the contemporary Yoruba and urban Lagos lifestyles. Beyond the music, Afrobeat is a movement.

Timbre

Dark and sharp timbre is common in the Afrobeat genre. Rounded tonality, though rare, can be found in recent recordings.

Arrangement

Most scholars disagree on a concrete pattern description for Afrobeat's musical arrangement. Admittedly, Afrobeat uses a complex system of the interplay between key instruments with less attention to established rhythmic patterns and signatures.

Key Instruments