Fela Kuti

Fela Kuti stands as the unchallenged progenitor of Afrobeats, creating the genre by fusing Yoruba percussion, jazz, and funk with radical political protest. Across more than 77 albums recorded between 1969 and 1997, he built a sonic revolution that remains the genre's blueprint; tracks like *Zombie* and *Water No Get Enemy* are studied by every artist who follows. His Lagos nightclub, Afrika Shrine, became a de facto republic where his music challenged military dictatorships, cementing his role as a global icon.