The Republic of Azerbaijan is a country bound by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first Muslim democracy, was created in 1918, but found itself part of the Soviet Union two years later. With the dissolution of the USSR imminent, in 1991 the modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed independence. Before year-end, the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region seceded to form their own republic.  The region and seven adjacent districts became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. Though internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh is unresolved.

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic, one of six independent Turkic states.  A member of the United Nations since 1992, Azerbaijan was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Councils in 2006.

Although the majority are of a Shiite Muslim background, most Azerbaijanis do not actively practice any religion, making this secular country one of the most irreligious in the Muslim world. Azerbaijan has a high rate of economic development and literacy, and a low rate of unemployment. However, the ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party, has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses.

Azerbaijani music, the musical tradition of the Azeri people from Azerbaijan and Iranian Azerbaijan, reaches back nearly 1,000 years, evolving its rhythmically diverse melodies with a branch mode system, focused on chromaticism of major and minor scales. Most songs recount real life events and folklore, or develop through song contests between troubadour poets. Usually accompanying dances at weddings, funerals and special festivals, these songs also reflect the regional mood: songs from the Caspian Sea are generally lively, even songs of betrayal express defiance, unlike the sad laments of the south.

As folk music is music of the people, musicians in socialist movements began to adapt it with contemporary sounds and arrangements in the form of protest music.

Traditional Azeri instruments include the stringed tar (skin faced lute), the kamancha (skin faced spike fiddle), the oud, originally barbat, and the saz (long necked lute); the double-reed wind balaban, the frame drum ghaval, the cylindrical double faced drum nagara (davul), the gosha nagara (pair of small kettle drums); as well as the garmon (small accordion), tutek (whistle flute), and daf (frame drum).

Due to the cultural crossbreeding prevalent during the Ottoman Empire, the tutek has influenced various cultures in the Caucasus region, e.g. the duduks. The zurna and naghara duo is also popular in rural areas, and played at weddings and other local celebrations.