The drum kit (or percussion set) is an ensemble of drums and cymbals of American and European origin, imported to Africa in the early 20th century. It is now present in all African popular music genres.
Drums in Africa
In African jazz, drummers like Mickey Baker (in Senegal) and musicians from Congolese rumba orchestras adapted the Western rock/jazz language to African rhythms. Afrobeat by Fela Kuti is based on a powerful rhythm section with drums, bass, and traditional percussion.
African pop music, soukous (TPOK Jazz, Tabu Ley Rochereau), and Senegalese mbalax all use the modern drum kit, often in hybridization with traditional drums like the djembe and sabar.
In Nigeria, the drum kit accompanies highlife and juju groups. In South Africa, it drives the rhythm of kwaito and afro-house. In French-speaking countries, the drum kit is omnipresent in Ivorian coupé-décalé and Cameroonian makossa.