Jazz africain (Afro-jazz)

Jazz africain mêlant traditions locales et jazz américain

African Jazz (Afro-jazz)

African jazz or afro-jazz is a musical style that fuses American jazz with traditional African rhythms and melodies. The influence of jazz was felt in Africa as early as the 1920s-30s, through imported records and traveling musicians. The orchestras of Congolese rumba (Congo) and highlife (Ghana/Nigeria) incorporate jazz structures into their brass arrangements.

Major figures include Hugh Masekela (South Africa, afro-jazz), Fela Kuti (who incorporated jazz saxophone solos into afrobeat), E.T. Mensah, and guitarists like Ali Farka Touré (Mali) who blended blues and jazz with Malian traditions.

African jazz is today carried by artists like Nubya Garcia (UK, Jamaican origin), Makaya McCraven (USA) and the scenes in Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg.