Afro rock

Afro rock is a style of rock music with African influences. Afro rock is a dynamic interplay between Western rock music and African musical elements such as rhythm, melodies and instrumentation. Afro rock bands and artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s included Osibisa, Assagai and Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

Influences[edit]

Afro rock borrows heavily from traditional African music styles and genres such as Afrobeat, Highlife, Juju and Soukous. It is also influenced by psychedelic rock, funk and blues. Western rock bands and artists such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Santana, La Fayette and Jimi Hendrix have contributed to the development of Afro rock through their innovative approaches to rock music. Fela Kuti also heavily influence Afro rock as he was also shaping Afrobeat as a genre which served as a precursor to Afro rock. Political and social movements advocating for liberation and independence inspired the socially conscious lyrics used in Afro rock.

Characteristics[edit]

Afro rock combined traditional African elements of music such as indigenous rhythms, melodies, instruments such as Mbira and talking drums and vocal styles with Western instruments such as electric guitars, bass, drums, keyboards and synthesizers. The sound is guitar-driven since the electric guitar plays a very crucial role, often serving as the lead instrument. Guitarists frequently employ techniques such as riffing, improvisation and layering to add on to the texture. Rhythmically, Afro rock is complex and features polyrhythms, irregular meter and syncopated beats derived from traditional African music and newer African genres such as highlife, soukous and juju. Afro rock lyrics mostly addressed social and political issues relevant to most African countries such as poverty, colonialism, politics and poor leadership and inequality and also celebrated African heritage and resilience hence reflecting the diverse cultural landscape of the continent. Afro rock performances were very engaging because the performers delivered soulful and expressive performances, often delivered in traditional African languages and English and coupled that with their exceptional improvisational skills. They extended their performances using instrumental solos, jam sessions and spontaneous arrangements making the music exciting and danceable.

Instrumentation[edit]

The central instrument in Afro rock was the electric guitar. It drove the melody and at times rhythm. One distinct effect that was adopted in Afro rock was the wah-wah pedal which is an effects pedal that changed the timbre of the guitar by creating a sound that imitated the human voice saying “wah-wah”. The bass guitar formed the foundational groove and rhythm. It also played melodic lines and had some solo sections in some cases. Drums were also an essential part of the rhythmic section. Western drumkits or African drums such as congas, bongos, djembe and talking drums were used. Other percussive instruments such as shekeres and tambourines were used to add depth to the rhythm section. Afro rock bands incorporated horns such as saxophones, trumpets and trombones to add an expressive element to the music as well as powerful accents and bright solos. Keyboards and synthesizers were frequently used for melodic and harmonic accompaniment and to create atmospheric and psychedelic effects. Additionally, traditional instruments we not left out. For instance, the Kora, Balafon, Kalimba and Mbira were used depending on the cultural influences of the bands. The instruments added some authenticity and cultural dimension to the music.

Style[edit]

The style relies on the use of rock string instruments (electric guitars and electric bass) and guitar effects like wah wah pedal.^[1] Songs are based around a rock chordal structure and progression with a horn section, and keyed instruments such as electric piano, organ, and clavinet.^[2] The rhythmic elements of the music are drums and bass, but other characteristically African and Afro-Cuban elements are the percussion instruments including congas, bongos, claves, whistles and other Latin percussion.^[3][4] In the late 1960s, Super Eagles and Psychedelic Aliens were pioneers of the genre.^[5] Osibisa^[6] and Assagai were founded in England.

Themes[edit]

Afro rock encompasses a plethora of themes that shed light on the experiences, beliefs and cultural contexts of the artists as well as the audience. The main theme that appeared regularly was social injustices and political activism. Artists understood the power of music in influencing the masses and used the platforms to critique oppression, corruption, bad governance and other social injustices; calling for a reformation. Afro rock artists often celebrated their African heritage and cultural identity, promoting resilience and solidarity. They drew inspiration from traditional folklore, spiritual practices and traditional music. Sometimes Afro rock was an expression of longing for freedom since colonialism was often mentioned in songs. In some cases, the struggle for independence from colonial rule was celebrated hence empowering the masses.

Afro rock in Nigeria[edit]

This new genre that emerged in the 1960’s served as a way for youth to voice out their resistance during political unrest in Nigeria. The Hykkers were formed in the early 60’s by young students who experimented with sound of Nigeria and the West.They started with playing covers of British records. They gained support from Fela Kuti and major critical acclaim. In the late 60’s, the band was captured by the Nigerian army when the war broke out and their music was used to raise morale and celebrate victory over Biafra. One of their tracks is “ I wanna break thru” Wrinkar Experience dominated the Afro rock in Nigeria. Some members were also from Cameroon and Ghana. They released a single, “Fuel for love” which became the highest selling Nigerian single at that time. The band toured West Africa and eventually broke up in 1977. Another notable track of theirs was “Ballad of a Sad Young Woman” Soki Ohale Uzzi blended elements of highlife and jazz to his music. They released their debut album, “Chicken Fled” in 1977 Ofege was a group that broke out at a young age and released their first album in high school. Their guitar solos were inspired by Hendrix and Santana over afrobeats rhythms and disco elements. Some of their albums include “Try and Love” , “Higher plane breeze” , “How do you feel” and “The last of the origins” Lijadu sisters, twins Taiwo and Kehinde Lijadu emerged in the late 60’s. They were influenced by Miriam Makeba,Aretha Franklin and Fela Kuti who was their cousin. They experimented with pop synthesisers, acid-fried funk elements afrobeat rhythms, funk, soul, disco and psychedelic rock progressions. They toured in Nigeria, Western Europe and the US and recorded with Ginger Baker They made music with a political message. Some of their albums include “Danger” , “Horizon Unlimited”, “Sunshine” and “Mother Africa”. The Strangers were formed in 1970 after the end of the civil war by guitarist and organist Bob Miga.They released three singles, funk rock tunes driven by fuzz guitar and organ riffs. They released a full album before they split up. Osayomore Joseph pioneered Afro rock and was a political activist. He got inspiration from psychedelic rock and Highlife. Blo was formed in the early 1970s by Berkley "Ike" Peters and Mike Odumosu. Blo's debut album, "Chapter One," released in 1973, showcased their signature blend of funk, highlife, and rock, earning them widespread acclaim. Tracks like "Preacher Man" and "Don't Take Her Away" exemplified Blo's unique sound, combining infectious grooves with poignant social commentary.

Monomono was led by the visionary musician Joni Haastrup. With albums like "Give the Beggar a Chance" (1972) and "Dawn of Awareness" (1974), Monomono pushed the boundaries of Afrorock, incorporating elements of jazz, blues, psychedelia and traditional Yoruba music. Haastrup's soulful vocals and intricate guitar work captivated audiences, cementing Monomono's legacy as trailblazers of the genre. 

Afro rock in Zambia[edit]

Afro rock in Zambia was known as Zamrock or Zambian rock in full. It emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a dynamic fusion of traditional Zambian rhythms and Western rock influences. It was during this period of post-colonial optimism that Zambia's music scene flourished and its people's desire to carve out a unique identity through music. WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) formed in the early 1970s, blended traditional Zambian rhythms with psychedelic rock. Their music came to life after the first president of Zambia decided that 95% of music be played on Zambian radio had to be of Zambian origin. Their albums, including "Introduction" and "In the Past," showcased their experimental approach to music, incorporating elements of funk, soul, and blues. Amanaz, led by Isaac Mpofu, also contributed significantly to the development of Zamrock with their introspective lyrics and fuzzy guitar riffs. Their album "Africa" is considered a classic of the genre, featuring socially conscious themes and catchy grooves that resonate with audiences to this day. Ngozi Family, lead by Paul Ngozi, brought a raw energy and rebellious spirit to Zamrock with their high-energy performances and infectious melodies. Some of their songs include "Hi Babe" and "Day of Judgement”

Afro rock in Ghana[edit]

Afro rock emerged in the 60’s and 70’s in Ghana and was influenced by Highlife and several artists helped to develop it. Osibisa was formed in London by Teddy Osei. They blended Afrobeat, highlife, funk and rock influences. They released a self-titled debut album in 1971, featured hits like "Music for Gong Gong" and "Sunshine Day,"which were some of their greatest hits. Ebo Taylor, a Ghanaian guitarist, composer, and bandleader, also made significant contributions to the development of Ghanaian Afro-rock. His album "Ebo Taylor and the Pelikans" exemplifies his unique blend of highlife, funk, and rock, with tracks like "Come Along" and "Mondo Soul Funky" showcasing his virtuosic guitar playing and catchy melodies. The Psychedelic Aliens also known as The Magic Aliens was led by guitarist and vocalist Ade "Witch" Rocha, excitement to Ghanaian Afro-rock with their electrifying performances and experimental sound. Some of their tracks include "We're Laughing" and "Extraordinary Woman".

Afro rock now[edit]

Afro rock seemed very promising but unfortunately faded out over the years. The rebellious nature of rock promoted by mainstream media was frowned upon by most Africans because it went against collectivism. Currently, various artists continue to incorporate rock and African musical elements. Such artists include Lady Donli (Pan-African Rockstar) and her band Lagos Panic. WITCH also made a comeback and released an album named “Zango” in 2023. NSG released a rock remix their single “OT Bop” which helped further bring Afro rock back to life. Another rock band is Dark Suburb from Ghana.

Afro rock musicians[edit]

• Osibisa
• Assagai
• Demon Fuzz^[7]
• Ofege^[8]
• Lijadu Sisters^[9]
• Arka'n^[10]
• Skinflint^[11]
• Crackdust^[12]
• Blo^[13]
• MATATA^[14]
• Ofo and the black company^[15]
• Clayrocksu^[16]
• Monomono
• Remi Kabaka, drummer

References[edit]

External links[edit]

https://imullar.com/2023/03/23/the-voices-from-west-africas-70s-psychedelic-rock-wave/

https://www.scaruffi.com/history/african.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wah-wah_pedal

See also[edit]

• Afrobeat
• Manu Dibango
• Fela Kuti
• Alhaji K. Frimpong. Ghanaian highlife singer

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