Radio

Afrobeat began in Nigeria in the late 1960s, created by two figures we still associate with the genre today: musician Fela Kuti and drummer Tony Allen. The genre blends West African rhythms, jazz improvisation, funk grooves, and highlife music — creating something that felt completely new at the time.

But the basic facts only tell you so much. So here are a few more interesting ones.

  • First — many Afrobeat tracks usually last 10–20 minutes, and that is not accidental. The music was designed to build slowly, layering rhythms and instruments until the groove becomes almost hypnotic.
  • Second — Afrobeat wouldn’t exist without Tony Allen. While we are often used to praising singers and frontmen first, his drumming was essential. It combined jazz technique with traditional Yoruba rhythms, creating complex polyrhythms where every limb seemed to play something different.
  • Third — the music was openly political. Fela Kuti used his songs to criticise corruption, military rule, and colonial influence in Nigeria. This was the moment when music became more than entertainment — it became a form of protest.

Now that you know these three things, the listening becomes not only enjoyable but also much more interesting. Time to press play.