The Afro music started in the twenty centuries by some Ghanaian artistes. Afro music originated from Ghana and it resulted into what we call highlife.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti showed his interest in Afro beat and he began his career plaging jazz beats and engaged in Afro music fully.
Fela Kuti launched his Afro beat music which fused jazz, funk, American blues and traditional Yoruba songs. After a while, Fela Kuti traveled to London and formed his band, Africa 70.
Till today, most songs made by Nigerian artistes are known as Afro songs.
Let’s take a look into Afro music created by Fela Kuti, the father of Afro music.
Water no get enemy
What does this sound like to you? I’m sure it sounds like a 90s song and that’s just really it. Fela simply meant in this song that no matter what happens, no one can ever hate water and that’s just the truth. If you notice in this performance, you’d realize there is a use of trumpet which depicts an Afro music.
This still doesn’t mean that all songs with trumpet are Afro songs but when it comes to Afro songs, there will be a way the trumpet will be played and mostly stressed in the song.
Let’s get to see another electrifying Afro music performance.
International thief
Who dares sing against the government? Fela Kuti does and I guess that is why he was taken to the prison twice and that’s still what he did in this song. Another fact about Afro music is that it is full of slangs that you can use to pour out your minds to people.
I’m sure you can see Fela Kuti and his Africa 70 band. They were the hottest in the game then.
Also, a big fun fact is that when Afro music is being performed, men take off their shirts because that’s the real deal and what makes it Afrobeats.
Trouble Sleep, Yanga Wake am
Did you ever read the part when I said a big fact about Afro music is that it is full of slangs here and there. When you come to Africa, we’ve got so many crazy slangs just like the ones used in this song.
Are you feeling the back up at all? That’s what a contemporary Afro music sounds like.
I think I also mentioned it earlier that when Afro music is being performed, the men especially the performance takes off their shirt. Have a look into one of Fela Kuti’s performance.
Felt that? I think you should.
Shakara
I feel this should just be a bonus track. What did you notice in this song? There is a use of trumpet as well which is a big part of the Afro music. Afro music loves trumpet, shekere (an African music instrument), drums and dance. That’s why so many songs that come out from Africa and Nigeria especially are songs we can dance to.
Till today, a lot of musicians have taken the path of Fela’s music, Afro pop and have now renewed the sound so it can sound good for this generation.
Even though Fela Kuti got into prison numerous times because he revealed the secrets of the government, his legacy still remains and he’s one of the greatest people that has ever come out of Africa.
Sadly, the world lost Fela Kuti to the complications of HIV/AIDS on August 2nd, 1997 when he was fifty eight years old.
Fela Kuti lived from October 15, 1938 to August 2nd, 1997.
When you talk about Afro music, you talk about Fela Kuti because he gave his life to it and that’s why he is called the King of Afrobeats.