Source: Rollingstone website
Over the past two years, the demand for afrobeats in the international music market has increased tremendously. Afrobeats, the music genre also known as afro-pop is a term used to qualify the type of music made in Nigeria, Ghana and some countries of west Africa.
Most people often confuse afrobeats with afrobeat. While afrobeat is a music genre that involves the combination of west African music style such as highlife music, jazz, soul and Fuji music. Afrobeat was propagated in the 1960's by the late musician and activist, Fela Kuti.
Afrobeats on the other hand includes some subgenres such as Azonto which is a dance and music genre that has been accredited to Ghana. another sub genre is Banku music which was pioneered by Nigerian artiste, Mr Eazi. It is said to be a mix of Ghanian highlife and Nigerian high sound music.
Another very popular subgenre is Pon Pon which was very popular in the 2010's and was the biggest genre in Nigeria with songs like “If" by “Fall” which exposed afrobeats to the international market falling under the subgenre.
Other subgenres under afrobeats which includes afroswing, afrotrap which gains popularity across Europe and alte music.
In the past couple of years, afrobeats has taken the international music space by storm, with some of the artist getting international recognitions, awards and charts. Essence by Wizkid and Tems is one of the most successful afrobeats songs it debuted on almost all the billboard charts, breaking into the top 5 of the hot 100 chart. It also got a Grammy nomination, BET awards, among other awards. ”Love nwantiti” by Ckay is another afrobeats song that was highly sought of internationally. with over 300 million streams on Spotify and millions of airplays across different continents, especially in Asia and Europe.
Calm down by Rema , “Last Last" by burna boy and “Free mind” by tems are other songs that fall under the afrobeats genre that are global hits.
Apart from afrobeats songs going international, afrobeats artistes are generally sought after by foreign artistes for features. Tems was featured in Future's “Wait for you" and it went number one in the world. Davido and Wizkid were featured on Chris brown's latest album among others.
The billboards created a chart for afrobeats songs and now, the Grammys are considering creating a category for afrobeats in the awards.
Afrobeats might just be that genre afterall.
listen to afrobeats today.