HOW JAMES BROWN SHAPED THE SOUND OF AFROBEAT: SALVADOR SANGO REFLECTS ON THE FUNK LEGEND’S INFLUENCE
Greek guitarist, music lecturer, and Afro-fusion artist Sotirios Papadopoulos, better known as Salvador Sango, has called Nigeria home for more than forty years.
At this year’s Felabration, held at Freedom Park, Lagos Island, he shared how the spirit of James Brown helped shape the Afrobeat sound we know today.
Sango explained that American funk icon James Brown had a huge impact on Fela Kuti, whose revolutionary music later defined Afrobeat. “James Brown brought that energy, that groove,” he said. “Fela took that and made it African.”
His own music reflects that cross-cultural mix a vibrant blend of Afro-Latin and Rock, layered with Yoruba lyrics and powered by Latin rhythms.
Over the years, Salvador Sango has performed on some of Nigeria’s biggest stages, earning a loyal fan base drawn to his guitar mastery, infectious grooves, and the fusion of global and African sounds.
