Afrobeat
The song that's shaking Africa and the world
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Afrobeats or Afrobeat
Afrobeat (no "s"): A genre from 1960s Nigeria, created by Fela Kuti. Mix of jazz, funk, and traditional African music with strong political messages.
Afrobeats (with an "s"): Modern African pop music (mainly from Nigeria and Ghana), popular since the 2000s. A blend of hip-hop, dancehall, and more. Danceable and made for the mainstream. Artists: Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido.
Two different styles with similar names.
Origin and History
The term "Afrobeats" first echoed through the streets of Nigeria in the early new millennium, but the music it represents has a history that dates back decades. Fela Kuti, considered the father of Afrobeat, was the genius who laid the foundations of the genre in the 1970s. Fela used his music as a powerful tool for addressing pressing issues, such as government corruption, social injustice, and human rights abuses in Nigeria. Even though the genre was created in the late 1960s he is still very credited for it.
But if this genre was born in Nigeria, how did it import globally? For that, we can thank artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tiwa Savage who had put it on the global stage reaching the billboard charts and filling stadiums worldwide.
The message behind Afrobeat
Afrobeat was pioneered by Nigerian artist Fela Kuti in the late 1960s and 1970s. The sound blends West African rhythms (like highlife and traditional Yoruba music) with American jazz, funk, and soul. But what really makes Afrobeat powerful is its message:
Political Protest :
Fela used Afrobeat to criticize government corruption, oppression, colonial influence, and social injustice in Nigeria and across Africa. His songs like Zombie, Water No Get Enemy, and Sorrow, Tears and Blood attacked military regimes and spoke up for the oppressed.
African Identity and Pride :
Afrobeat promotes African cultural pride and rejects Western cultural domination. Fela’s music often celebrated African traditions, languages, and history.
Social Awareness :
Beyond politics, Afrobeat tackled issues like poverty, inequality, police brutality, and civil rights.
Its popularity today
Afrobeat is enjoying huge success worldwide, thanks to its festive energy, danceable rhythms and mix of musical styles (highlife, hip-hop, R&B, electro...). Led by charismatic artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema, the genre has exploded thanks to social networking, streaming and collaborations with international stars.
It also embodies a young, proud, creative and connected Africa, which radiates far beyond the continent. Afrobeat has become a powerful cultural symbol, carried by the diaspora and embraced by millions of fans worldwide.
Sources :
https://www.soundtrap.com/content/blog/how-to-make-afrobeats
https://cdn-images.dzcdn.net/images/cover/045a5d02535386bbe01627206500ce0b/0x1900-000000-80-0-0.jpg
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/afrobeat-music-guide
https://mdlbeast.com/xp-feed/music-industry/the-global-influence-of-afrobeat
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