What is Afrobeats music? How did it begin? Which countries does it originate from? And what are some of the different variations within the genre? In this guide, we give you the skinny on all things Afrobeats-associated, plus share some of our current favourite Afrobeats artists, including Audio Network songwriting sensation Titi Lokei.
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A Brief History of Afrobeats Music
There’s a lot of confusion around the differences between Afrobeat and Afrobeats, so allow us to explain.
Afrobeat
Afrobeat’s earliest roots were laid in Ghana in the early 20th century with the birth of highlife, a musical style which blended West African folk sounds with elements from Western jazz and calypso. By the late 1950s, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti had begun exploring the possibilities of this new genre, adding elements from soul, jazz, R&B and soca into the mix.
In 1976, Fela and his band, Africa 70, released their debut LP Zombie, and with it established the classic Afrobeat sound, which embellished the aforementioned musical fusion with elements from funk, psychedelic rock and reggae. Under Fela’s guidance, political commentary became a key component of the Afrobeat genre, with artists seeking to inspire listeners to take action against government corruption and societal injustice.
Fela continued to spearhead the Afrobeat movement until his death in the late 90s, when his sons Seun and Femi took up the mantle. Meanwhile, Fela’s drummer Tony Allen further explored the possibilities of Afrobeat by pioneering a hip hop, dub and electronica-influenced sub-genre dubbed Afrofunk.
Afrobeats
The name Afrobeats was first coined in the early 00s as an umbrella term to describe a vibrant wave of pop music largely emerging from Nigeria and Ghana. Though undoubtedly influenced by Afrobeat, Afrobeats largely eschews political content in favour of more uplifting subject matter, and incorporates a dizzying range of musical styles, including dancehall, bashment, juju, Naija beats, soca, house, hip hop and R&B. There are also a plethora of subgenres, including Afropop, Afrobashment, Afrorave and Afroswing (a fusion of rap, grime, dancehall, trap and R&B pioneered by British-Gambian rapper J Hus).
Afrobeats’ meteoric rise can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, MTV Base Africa launching in 2005, broadcasting indigenous sounds globally. Secondly, the gradual dissolution of rigid genre boundaries, meaning that it’s now the norm for musicians to interpolate elements from disparate musical styles into their songwriting. As a result, the parameters of pop music are being rapidly redefined, with elements like driving, African-inspired drum rhythms becoming commonplace in modern pop.
Another key factor in Afrobeats’ rise in popularity is the fact that the US is home to a thriving West African diaspora. As Rolling Stone report, “Between 2000 and 2015, the African-immigrant population in just the United States more than doubled, exceeding 2 million.”
Key Characteristics of Afrobeats Music
So what does Afrobeats music sound like? There’s no foolproof formula but here are some of the common characteristics of the genre:
- Uplifting melodies
- Complex rhythms and heavy percussion
- Hybrid languages
- Digital production
Uplifting Melodies
Synonymous with celebrations, Afrobeats songs favour bright vocal melodies and party-ready rhythms.
Complex Rhythms & Heavy Percussion
Drawing on the rich history of West African drumming, Afrobeats productions usually foreground syncopated, dancefloor-designed rhythms.
Hybrid Languages
Afrobeats artists typically mix English with the West African languages, including Naijá (Pidgin English) in the case of Nigerian Afrobeats stars.
Digital Production
Where Afrobeat songs are largely created with analogue production – both by virtue of the instrumentation used and the era in which the bulk of tracks were made – Afrobeats records are generally digitally produced.
Afrobeats Artists You Need To Know
- Tems
- Titi Lokei
- Rema
- Amaarae
- Obongjayar
- Naira Marley
Beyond Grammy-approved behemoths like Burna Boy and Wizkid, where do you begin with Afrobeats? Below, we round up some of our current favourite Afrobeats artists.
Tems
Hailing from Lagos, Temilade Openiyi has enjoyed an abundance of high profile support since the release of her debut EP, For Broken Ears, back in 2020. A-list collaborations so far include work with Wizkid on his Grammy-nominated, US top 10 single ‘Essence’, as well as cameos on Drake’s sixth album Certified Lover Boy and on Future’s 2022 single ‘Wait For U’.
Titi Lokei
Audio Network artist Titi Lokei is a songwriting sensation. Drawing on her Nigerian heritage, the Chicago-born star fuses Afrobeats with influences from hip hop and pop, and has previously opened for acts including Jeremih, Wizkid, Davido and Twista.
Want to learn more about Titi? Check out her Talking Change episode:
Rema
Pioneer of the self-styled Afrobeats subgenre Afrorave – a phrase adapted from Benin City slang – Rema counts Selena Gomez, FKA Twigs, Skepta and Barack Obama amongst his high-profile fans. In addition, the Lagos-based star’s debut album Rave and Roses features collaborations with AJ Tracey, 6LACK and Chris Brown.
Amaarae
Born in New York and raised between Accra, Atlanta and Hackettstown, Amaarae’s cross-cultural experience is the driving force behind her deeply experimental ethos. Embraced and endorsed by the exciting melting pot of exuberant creativity that is Nigeria’s Alté scene, Amaarae is all about female empowerment and puts her West African heritage and influences at the core of everything she does, while challenging views on gender norms, female sexuality, artistic self-expression and more.
Obongjayar
Calabar-born, London-based singer Steven Umoh released his brilliant debut album Some Nights I Dream Of Doors back in May of 2022 to widespread acclaim. A chameleonic talent blending Afrobeats with an eclectic array of other influences, you might also recognise his distinctive vocals from his work with Little Simz, Giggs, Danny Brown, Pa Salieu and Moses Boyd.
Naira Marley
Known for his outspoken, anti-authoritarian outlook, Lagos-raised star Naira Marley creates Afrobeats music that draws on Caribbean dancehall as well as UK road rap. A viral sensation in his native Nigeria, he also runs the wildly successful record label Marlian Music.
Last Last…
Enjoyed learning about Afrobeats, and want to find out more about other musical styles? Head over to our blog, The Edit, which offers a veritable wealth of inspiration, expertise and news.
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