Fela Kuti and Afrobeat

Without a doubt, the best music style I've come across in recent times is Afrobeat.

Afrobeat isn't new. As I understand it the style was created by Fela Kuti in Nigeria in the early 1970s. It's a kind of Funk and Jazz hybrid with African rhythms and chant vocals. Fela's lyrics were often political which got him in lots of trouble with the Nigerian goverment of the time (most notably his criticism of the army on an EP called Zombie) but they earned him the respect of African people continent-wide.

Tracks by Fela Kuti are long - averaging 15 to 20mins, with the vocals usually not kicking in until halfway - but the amazing sax playing, that's Fela.

Another major performer in Fela Kuti's band was Tony Allen. Brian Eno called him "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived." He's still alive and has collaborated with Damon Albarn among others. He records albums under his own name - Lagos No Shaking is a personal favourite.

Other Afrobeat artists that I think you should check-out are Antibalas, Fanga, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti (just two of Fela's many sons).

Afrobeat has definitely influenced my own music. Polyrhythms (or cross rhythms) have long interested me and Afrobeat puts these to work in a big way. Tracks of mine called Lagos and Kalakuti Republic are my most blunt attempts at a sort of electro Afrobeat although I still haven't achieved a truly loose and natural feel yet.

Fela Kuti died on 2nd August 1997. I'm reading his biography now and what a life he had. His music and lyrics live on and keep finding new fans - I think that would have made him very happy.