Afrobeat (no 's') was created by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti in the late 1960s and 1970s. It fuses jazz improvisation, funk grooves, Yoruba rhythms, and politically charged lyrics into extended compositions often lasting 15-30 minutes.
Key characteristics: complex polyrhythmic drumming, call-and-response horn arrangements, Tony Allen's pioneering drum patterns, repetitive grooves that build hypnotically, and lyrics addressing corruption, colonialism, and social justice.
The distinction between Afrobeat and Afrobeats matters. Afrobeat is a specific genre with political roots; Afrobeats is a broad contemporary pop category. Conflating them overlooks decades of history and artistic intent.