Although of European origin, the guitar has become an emblematic instrument of all African popular music since the beginning of the 20th century. The continent has developed unique and deeply influential playing styles.
The guitar in soukous and Congolese rumba
In Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville, the guitar is the central instrument of soukous and Congolese rumba. Virtuoso guitarists from the Orchestre Africa Zone (Franco), TPOK Jazz, and African Music International created a complex, fast, and melodic fingerpicking style. Legendary guitarists include Franco Luambo Maki (the “guitar sorcerer”), Charnette, Ngalula, and Niwel Tsumbu.
The Ivorian highlife
The highlife of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana uses sinuous guitar lines, often in fingerstyle. Artists like E.T. Mensah, Aaron Klutse, and more recently Adakua perpetuate this tradition.
Congolese fingerstyle and benga
In Kenya, the orchestra Manyo Stars popularized the benga style on guitar. In Congo, guitarists like Niwel Tsumbu perpetuate the rural Congolese fingerstyle.
Afrobeat and afropop
In Nigerian afrobeat, Fela Kuti, Tony Allen and guitarists like Tunde Adeniji integrate the guitar into complex grooves. Contemporary afropop by Tony Allen, Patoranking and Davido uses synthetic guitar riffs or those played in the studio.
The guitar in zouglou and coupé-décalé
In Côte d’Ivoire, the coupé-décalé (artists like Arafat, Mercy Massia) employs recognizable electronic guitar riffs worldwide. Ivorian zouglou also uses the rhythmic guitar in a distinctive way.