Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, a Nigerian-born and British-educated musician, fused West African highlife with Western funk, jazz, and R&B, creating a style of music he named Afrobeat. Though based in his hometown of Lagos, Nigeria, the music had strong popularity across Africa. Afrobeat songs were written in local languages, as well as in Pidgin English and English.

Following Kuti's death in 1997, his son Femi has carried on the Afrobeat tradition.

The late 1990's Afrobeat movement has been deeply influenced not only by Fela Kuti's music but also his politics, embracing topics like militarism and globalization in its music.