Will Afrobeat Be The Latest Genre Of Music Setting The Pace?

Image Source: Ibiene Magazine

Music has been tagged as an international language over the years. This is because every song is rhythm, imagination and spirit which can cut through cultural and ethnic barriers. Afrobeat is a genre of music that seems to be setting a new pace or trend, lately. Although it might not seem typically new, yet the dynamics of its upspring give it more attention than other genres of music. 

What Is Afrobeat Music?

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Afrobeat is a genre of music that incorporates different types of African and Western rhythms, thereby creating a unique beat. There are various genres of music: Afrobeat has found a way to stand out in recent times. Usually, Jazz (American), Fuji, Highlife, funk and, recently, R&B create it.

History Of Afrobeat

According to various documentation on the history of this genre, there are many clashes on who initiated the unique beat. Many people say it originated in Ghana, others say in Nigeria. As different as they might seem, both assumptions are true.

Back in the 50s, Ghanian musicians creatively experimented with both African and Western beat (calypso and jazz), creating the beat Highlife. Afterwards, Highlife became a famous and personal beat in West Africa.  Years later (in the 70s), Nigerian Musical legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti came up with Afrobeat.

Fela recently finished his education in Music. Thereafter, he decided to create a unique tone to infuse the famous Highlife with more western and African beats. While highlife includes most calypso, soul, and jazz, Fela brought Fuji and more native beats to the genre. With the success of this creation, it came the birth of lots of Fela’s famous songs like Zombie, Lady, Water, and many others.

Evolution of Afrobeat Music.

Image Source: BBC News

After the death of Fela, Afrobeat continued to be used by various musicians. The fame of the genre could not be stopped, even by the death of its initiator. Fela’s famous drummer Tony Allen, Fela’s sons Femi and Seun Kuti, and other musicians continued to use the genre, yet the genre’s power was not fully manifested.

During the 20th and 21st centuries, some African musicians began to tap into the beauty of Afrobeat. Wizkid, Dimond Platnumz, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Angelique Kidjo, and many other artists began to create amazing music and even albums with Afrobeat.

Recently, the wave of Afrobeat music has crossed the thin borders of Africa, spreading its tentacles to the world. The influence of the genre is being accepted by many international artists and even top-rated musicians. The infusion of Afrobeat is being recognized in albums as “The Gift” by Beyonce and “Diaspora” by Goldlink.

Adoption Of Afrobeat Music

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Not limited just to American musicians, the British ones also infuse the beat in their creativity: J Hus was recently named the top Afrobeat artist in the UK. The growth of the genre is amazing, landing its own charts in the UK and USA music community.

The adoption of this beat by artists shows that many people are falling in love with it. Its acceptance develops various questions. Will Afrobeat set a new course in the international music atmosphere? Will the influence of this beat cross more borders and cultures? What to answer is up to us. However, it is obvious people love good music and Afrobeat is it.

Writer: Idowu .E. Anuoluwamipo