Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti is a useful starting point for hearing how Lagos highlife, jazz and soul became Afrobeat. The combination of dance music and political argument matters here: these recordings are also an account of the society in which they were made.
Begin with Gentleman, then follow Water Get No Enemy or Expensive Shit. Compare the ensemble with Tony Allen’s work under his own name: following the drummer opens another route through the same musical partnership.
A recording to start with
Gentleman
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Keep exploring
These links are starting points. A country connection can describe a scene or a place of work, and an artist’s music may span several genres.
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