Afrobeats is a term used to describe a type of popular music that comes from West Africa and the diaspora. It started in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK during the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is not a single style of music but a way to describe the mix of sounds from Nigeria and Ghana. It includes music styles like hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others.

Most Afrobeats music is created in Lagos, Accra, and London. Historian and cultural critic Paul Gilroy wrote about how changes in London’s population have influenced its music scene. In his book The Black Atlantic, Gilroy said that Black culture and music are not limited to one place. Afrobeats shows this idea by blending sounds from different countries. Since 2019, Afrobeats has gained attention worldwide. Music writer David Drake noted that Nigerian musicians take inspiration from music in the U.S., Jamaica, and Trinidad, then change these influences in new ways.

Afrobeats became widely popular in the late 2010s, with artists gaining success in Africa, Europe, and North America. From 2017 to 2022, the number of people listening to Afrobeats on Spotify grew by 550%. Because of this, Afrobeats is considered one of Africa’s most important cultural or musical exports.

Characteristics

Afrobeats (with the "s") is often confused with Afrobeat (without the "s"), but they are different styles of music that sound distinct from each other.

Afrobeat began in the 1960s and 1970s. It was influenced by music styles like Fuji, highlife, American jazz, and funk. Features of Afrobeat include large bands, long musical solos, and complex rhythms. The name Afrobeat was created by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Fela Kuti and his longtime drummer, Tony Allen, are often credited with helping to develop this style of music.

Afrobeats, which became popular in the 2000s and 2010s, is different. It takes inspiration from Afrobeat but mixes it with many other genres, such as British house music, hiplife, hip hop, dancehall, soca, jùjú, highlife, R&B, ndombolo, Naija beats, Azonto, and palm-wine music. Unlike Afrobeat, which is a clearly defined genre, Afrobeats is a broader term used to describe modern West African pop music. The term was created to help people in the UK better understand and identify these diverse sounds. Another difference is that Afrobeat often included messages about politics, while Afrobeats usually avoids such topics.

Afrobeats is known for its strong, driving drum rhythms, whether played by instruments or using electronic beats. These rhythms are inspired by traditional West African drumming styles and the earlier Afrobeat genre. In Afrobeats, the drumbeat is a central part of the music, often as important as or more important than the lyrics or other instruments. Afrobeats often has a similar energy and speed to house music. It typically uses the 4/4 time signature, common in Western music, and often includes a rhythm pattern called a clave, which is either 3–2 or 2–3.

Another feature of Afrobeats is the use of English with a West African accent, often mixed with local slang, pidgin English, or languages from Nigeria or Ghana, depending on the artist.

Sometimes, Afrobeats music includes samples, which are parts of other songs. For example, artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid have used parts of music by Fela Kuti in their songs.

Name

A DJ named Abrantee from London was recognized by The Guardian for creating the term "Afrobeats" by adding an "s" to "Afrobeat." This change was made to introduce the sound to British dance floors. Abrantee explained that "Afrobeats" is not a specific music style like "Afrobeat" but a general term for modern African pop music and music influenced by it. DJ 3K said the term is more of a marketing label for today's music. David Drake described the genre as one that mixes influences from different cultures around the world and often changes them completely. However, some people warn against using "Afrobeats" to describe all modern African music, to avoid ignoring the unique contributions of local music traditions. Some artists have avoided using the term "Afrobeats" because it is too similar to "Afrobeat," even though the two sounds are different.

Afrobeats is sometimes called "Afro-pop" or "Afro-fusion." Some artists, like Don Jazzy, prefer "Afro-pop" over "Afrobeats." Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido describe their music as "Afro-fusion" or "Afro-pop." Mr. Eazi calls his music "banku music" to show the influence of Ghanaian culture, as "banku" is a traditional Ghanaian dish. Rema created the term "Afrorave," a type of Afrobeats that includes influences from Arabian and Indian music.

Yeni Kuti, the daughter of Fela Kuti, dislikes the term "Afrobeats" and prefers "Nigerian pop," "Naija Afropop," or "Nigerian Afropop." Seun Kuti, Fela Kuti's youngest son, believes the music of artists like Dbanj and P-Square should be called "Afropop." He said, "You cannot just call some pop music Afrobeat just because it's coming from Africa." Music critic Osagie Alonge criticized the use of "Afrobeats" because it changes "Afrobeat" into a plural form. Sam Onyemelukwe, a host on a Nigerian television show, said he likes "Afrobeats" because it honors the roots of Afrobeat while showing that it is a different sound. Burna Boy has said he does not want his music called "Afrobeats." However, many people have criticized terms like "Afrobeats" for using the "Afro" prefix, which can make it seem like Africa is one single, unified culture instead of many different ones.

Reggie Rockstone, a famous hiplife artist, said in an interview with Gabriel Myers Hansen that he felt unsure about how to describe the music he and others create. Rockstone chose to use the term "Afrobeats" instead of "hiplife," which is often grouped under the "Afrobeats" category.

History

Afrobeats music started in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, MTV Base Africa launched, giving West African artists a chance to grow. Artists like MI Abaga, Naeto C, and Sarkodie were among the first to use this opportunity. However, many artists at the time were copying American hip hop and R&B styles. Before this, groups such as Trybesmen, Plantashun Boiz, and the Remedies blended modern American music with local melodies. This helped them build local audiences, but language barriers limited their reach. In 2007, P-Square released an album called Game Over, which was special because it used Nigerian rhythms and melodies. At the same time, artists like Flavour N'abania used older genres, such as highlife, and updated them for modern audiences, as seen in his song "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)." By the late 2000s, artists in the growing Afrobeats scene were becoming famous across Africa.

In April 2011, Choice FM launched a new Afrobeats radio show hosted by DJ Abrantee. This marked the first time the genre gained widespread attention. The show helped UK and African artists share their music with a larger audience. DJ Abrantee tested playing Afrobeats during daytime radio in the UK. Some of the first Afrobeats songs played on UK radio were Mista Silva's "Boom Boom Tah," May7ven's "Ten Ten," D'Banj's "Oliver Twist," and Moelogo's "Pangolo" in March 2012. In 2012, P-Square released a remix of their 2009 song "E No Easy" with Matt Houston. This became the first Afrobeats song to reach the top 5 on the French SNEP music chart and the top 10 on the Belgian Ultratop chart. The song spent 29 weeks on the French chart and 16 weeks on the Belgian chart. It was the first Afrobeats summer hit in France, increasing the genre's visibility in French-speaking countries. In 2019, Mr. Eazi credited D'banj for encouraging Nigerians to embrace their accents and music instead of copying American styles. British DJs like DJ Edu (with his BBC Radio 1Xtra show Destination Africa) and DJ Abrantee (with his Choice FM show) helped African music gain popularity in the UK. DJ Abrantee is credited with creating the name "Afrobeats." In 2014, he launched Afrobeats charts on Capital Xtra. DJs and producers like DJ Black, Elom Adablah, and C-Real also helped spread Afrobeats by playing songs on their shows.

Ghanaian British artist Fuse ODG helped make Afrobeats popular in the UK. He was the first to top the iTunes World Chart and won the Best African Act award at the 2013 MOBO Awards. In 2009, Fuse ODG described his sound as "hip hop with an African vibe." In 2011, he traveled to Ghana and discovered the Azonto dance, which inspired him to blend hip hop, Afro-pop, and Naija beats. After returning to London, he combined these sounds with UK funky and grime influences, calling it "Afrobeats with my UK style." His 2012 song "Antenna" reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. His song "Azonto" further helped popularize Afrobeats and the dance in the UK. These songs and the Azonto dance encouraged Black Brits to embrace their African heritage instead of focusing on British-Caribbean communities. Afrobeats nightclubs became a major part of the UK nightlife, with clubs opening in major cities.

More dances helped spread Afrobeats. In 2011, Nigerian singer Iyanya released "Kukere," which became popular for its use of a traditional dance called Etighi. In 2013, Nigerian artist Davido released "Skelewu" and shared a dance tutorial video on YouTube. The video was part of a competition where fans uploaded their own dance videos. According to Pulse Nigeria, over 100,000 views of these videos were recorded.

Other UK Afrobeats artists emerged around 2012–2013, including Mista Silva, Vibe Squad, Weray Ent, Naira Marley, Kwamz, Flava, Moelogo, and Timbo. These artists helped build the foundation for future UK Afrobeats and its related genre, Afroswing. Mista Silva's songs "Bo Won Sem Ma Me" and "Boom Boom Tah" were early hits in the UK scene. Mista Silva and Skob credited Fuse ODG's "Azonto" song for inspiring them to create Afrobeats.

Ghanaian artist Guru popularized his own dance called "Alkayida" with his 2013 song "Alkayida (Boys Abrɛ)." Nigerian artist MC Galaxy also popularized a dance called "Sekem."

The song "Shekini" from P-Square's 2014 album Double Trouble increased Afrobeats' visibility in the Middle East and North Africa. It influenced many recordings and parodies in the Arab World, including works by Arash and Black Cats.

In 2014, Don Jazzy promoted the song "Dorobucci" by asking fans to record themselves singing it before its release. The song won Best Pop Single at The Headies 2014 and Song of the Year at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards. It gained over 20 million views by 2016.

Ghanaian artist Sarkodie won Best International Act Africa at the 2012 MOBO Awards and Best Hip Hop at the 2014 MTV Africa Awards. His 2011 song "U Go Kill Me" became a hit in Ghana and helped spread the Azonto dance.

American artists like Michelle Williams, French Montana, Rick Ross, and Kanye West have worked with Afrobeats artists. Michelle Williams released "Say Yes" in 2014, a gospel song based on a Nigerian hymn. The song's beat uses the clave rhythm, a pattern common in West African music. Another hit was "Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad)" by Fuse ODG, which reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart

Subgenres

Afro-Adura, also called Afro-Trenches, is a type of afrobeats music that started in 2022. It focuses on spiritual themes and positive messages, but also talks about the challenges of street life and escaping poverty. The music is described as both energetic and sad, and the lyrics are often sung in the Yoruba language. The name comes from combining "afro" (from afrobeats) and "adura," which means "prayer" in Yoruba. In January 2023, a music platform called Boomplay created an official Afro-Adura playlist, calling the genre "music for the street by the street" with lyrics that help people think and feel motivated.

Musicians linked to Afro-Adura include Seyi Vibez, Tope Alabi, 9ice, Oritse Femi, Jaywon, Dotman, Barry Jhay, Bella Shmurda, Zinoleesky, MohBad, Asake, T.I Blaze, and Magicsticks. Some people have called Afro-Adura a type of street-hop music, but Seyi Vibez said he did not know this term, and others have criticized it as unnecessary.

Azonto is a music and dance style from Ghana. The dance became popular after a 2011 song called "U Go Kill Me" by Ghanaian artist Sarkodie. However, Azonto music began earlier, with songs like "Kpo Kpo Body" by Gafacci and "I Like Your Girlfriend" by Bryte and Gafacci. The dance led to a new type of afrobeats music with simple, fast rhythms and easy-to-remember melodies. In 2011, a British musician named Fuse ODG learned about the Azonto dance in Ghana. After returning to London, he made a song called "Azonto," which helped the dance become famous worldwide. This was the first time afrobeats music was played on British daytime radio. Fuse ODG later released another song called "Antenna."

In 2013, a rapper named 2 Shy, from the Bronx, released a song called "Azonto Girl" with help from a producer named Rude Boy. This helped spread the Azonto music and dance to the United States.

Banku music is a type of afrobeats created by Mr. Eazi. It mixes Ghanaian highlife music with Nigerian chord patterns and adds influences from reggae, R&B, and hip-hop. Mr. Eazi's music is calm and relaxed, often using Pidgin English and rhythmic beats. The name "Banku" comes from a Ghanaian dish that combines many ingredients, just like how Banku music blends different musical styles. Mr. Eazi said the calm sound in his music was inspired by Ghana, unlike the high-energy music of Lagos, Nigeria.

Pon Pon is a music style that was popular in Nigeria during the mid-2010s. It is influenced by dancehall and highlife music. A producer named Sess The Problem Kid described Pon Pon as having a calm feel and soft, repeating synth sounds. The name comes from the sound of the synths used in the music. However, it is unclear where Pon Pon began. A song called "Pana" by Tekno is often credited with making the style popular. One of the producers of "Pana," Krizbeatz, prefers to call the style "Afro Dance Music" (ADM) because it is influenced by electronic dance music (EDM).

Songs like "If" and "Fall" by Davido, "Mad Over You" and "For Life" by Runtown, "Away" by P-Square, "Medicine" and "Odoo" by Wizkid, "Gaga Shuffle" by 2Baba, "Mama" by Mayorkun, "Ma Lo" by Tiwa Savage, "Jeje" by Falz, and "Ur Waist" by Iyanya are all examples of Pon Pon music. By the late 2010s, the Pon Pon style became less popular.

Fusion and derivative genres

Afropiano is a mix of two music styles: afrobeats and amapiano. It is sometimes called Naija-Amapiano. This style became very popular in the early 2020s. A well-known song that helped make afropiano famous is "Monalisa" by Lojay and Sarz. This song reached the top 10 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart and was the most identified song globally in 2021. Other afropiano songs include "Champion Sound" by Davido and Focalistic, "Amapiano" by Asake and Olamide, and "Go Low" by L.A.X.

Afrosoca is a mix of afrobeats and soca music, with some influences from dancehall. This style was started in Trinidad & Tobago by Nigerian and Trinidadian artists. Artists like Olatunji, Machel Montano, and Timaya helped develop the genre. Olatunji's song "Ola" was a hit during Trinidad's 2015 carnival season and earned him the title "Groovy Soca Monarch." A popular song from 2014 was a remix of "Shake Your Bum Bum" by Timaya and Machel Montano. By 2016, many afrosoca songs were released, including "Oh Yah" by Olatunji and "Block D Road" by Fay-Ann Lyons and Stonebwoy B.

Shakira Marshall, a choreographer from New York, created the name "afrosoca" in 2012 to describe a dance style that blends African and Caribbean movements. Afrosoca songs usually have a similar beat to Groovy Soca (110 to 135 BPM) and often include melodies influenced by West African music.

Gospel singer Isaac Blackman and DJ Derek "Slaughter" Pereira have criticized the name "afrosoca," saying it suggests a new sound when soca music already has African roots.

Afroswing, also called Afrobashment, is a British music style that started in London around 2014. It mixes afrobeats with influences from British dancehall, grime, R&B, trap, and hip hop. Artists like J Hus and producers such as Jae5, Blairy Hendrix, and Joshua Beatz helped create this genre. Afroswing has been very popular in the UK.

Afroswing is defined more by its melody than a specific beat. Producer Steel Banglez said the key parts of afroswing are chords that make listeners feel certain emotions and a drum pattern with a snare that hits on the third beat, a feature common in afrobeats. Martin Connor, an expert in music, explained that afroswing uses a 4/4 rhythm with repeating three-note patterns. He noted that the rhythm has influences from Jamaican music but includes hip hop elements in lyrics and music videos.

In Cuba, a new music style called Bakosó began in the mid-2010s in Santiago de Cuba. Artists like Ozkaro, Maikel el Padrino, and producers such as Kiki Pro helped create this genre. African students in Cuba introduced local artists to African music, leading to a mix of afrobeats, kuduro, azonto, and Cuban styles like rumba and conga. The name "Bakosó" originally meant "party." In 2019, DJ Jigüe made a documentary titled "Bakosó: AfroBeats of Cuba" that was shown at film festivals and released globally in 2021.

Afro trap is a genre that blends Sub-Saharan African music with modern rap. It was created in the mid-2010s by French rapper MHD, who is of West African descent. He wanted to make music that included West African traditions, such as traditional languages and music. Afro trap has only a small connection to trap music. The genre spread to Europe, especially Germany, where artists like Bonez MC and RAF Camora added more dancehall influences. Some critics, like Ghanaian Stallion, said the German version of the genre lacks real African influences.

In the late 2010s, a new Nigerian music style called Alté emerged. It mixes afrobeats, rap, R&B, soul, dancehall, and other styles. The term "Alté" was first used in 2014 by BOJ on his song "Paper." It means "alternative" in Nigerian slang and represents freedom of expression. Alté became widely recognized as a genre around 2012 and gained popularity in 2016. Artists like Cruel Santino, Odunsi (The Engine), Zamir, Tems, Lady Donli, Nonso Amadi, Tay Iwar, 66ixx, and Amaarae helped shape the style.