Global Genres · Written by the Blessed Records editorial team · Published 21 October 2026
Jazz and African music have been in conversation for more than a century. The rhythms that African people carried across the Atlantic helped shape jazz, and in the twentieth century African musicians took jazz ideas home and combined them with their own traditions. This article follows that exchange and shows why jazz matters to anyone who loves Afrobeat and highlife.
The African roots of jazz
Jazz grew in African American communities in the southern United States, notably in New Orleans, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It drew on blues, spirituals, ragtime and brass band music, and many of its rhythmic ideas, such as syncopation, call-and-response and improvisation, have deep African roots. Jazz is therefore partly an echo of African musical practice transformed by new circumstances.
Jazz returns to Africa
In the mid-twentieth century jazz records and touring musicians reached African cities, and local players absorbed the harmonies and improvising spirit. In West Africa, highlife bands began adding jazz harmony and horn arrangements. In South Africa, musicians created their own jazz tradition, with artists such as trumpeter Hugh Masekela and singer Miriam Makeba becoming international voices. In Cameroon, saxophonist Manu Dibango recorded “Soul Makossa” in 1972, a track that influenced dance music worldwide.
Jazz and Afrobeat
Fela Kuti trained in London and had a strong grounding in jazz. His Afrobeat sound combined highlife and Yoruba music with jazz harmonies, funk grooves and long improvised sections for horns and keyboards. Drummer Tony Allen, who shaped the style’s groove, was also deeply influenced by jazz, and later worked with musicians in many genres.
What jazz can teach modern artists
- Listening. Jazz musicians respond to each other in real time, which makes bands tighter.
- Harmony. Richer chords can make a pop song feel sophisticated without losing its melody.
- Space. Knowing when not to play is as important as what to play.
- Improvisation. Even a short improvised section can make a live performance unforgettable.
Where to start listening
Try a classic album by Hugh Masekela, listen to “Soul Makossa”, and then play a Fela Kuti recording from the 1970s. Follow the horn lines and the way the rhythm section locks together. Then listen to a modern Afrobeats song and see whether you can hear traces of the same ideas.
Key figures to explore
- Hugh Masekela (South Africa): trumpeter and composer whose music blended jazz with township sounds.
- Miriam Makeba (South Africa): singer who brought African music to the world stage.
- Manu Dibango (Cameroon): saxophonist known for “Soul Makossa”.
- Fela Kuti and Tony Allen (Nigeria): creators of the Afrobeat groove.
- Highlife-jazz bands across Ghana and Nigeria, which paired horn sections with African rhythms.
Common questions
Do I need to read music to play jazz-influenced Afrobeat?
No, but learning basic chords and scales helps you communicate with other musicians and expand your vocabulary.
Is Afrobeat jazz?
Not exactly. It uses jazz harmony and improvisation, but it combines them with highlife, funk and Yoruba traditions to form a distinct style.
Key takeaways
- Jazz has African rhythmic roots, and African musicians later reshaped jazz in their own countries.
- Highlife-jazz and Afrobeat are direct results of this exchange.
- Listening to jazz improves harmony, timing and live performance skills.
Keep reading
- K-Pop Explained: How a Pop Industry Became a Global Movement
- Reggaeton and Latin Music: The Rhythm That Conquered Streaming
- How Afrobeat Went Global
- More from the Blog
- Listen on the Music page
This article is for general information and education. It is not legal, financial or professional advice. Read our editorial standards.