AfroBeats - The Evolution and Rising Dominance of A Genre That Stunned The World

The energetic, dance-inspiring fusion of American hip-hop/R&B, Afro-pop, and West African highlife is known as afrobeats, and it has established itself as one of the fastest-growing musical subgenres in recent years. While the popularity of Afrobeats has skyrocketed over the past ten years, its roots may be found in Nigeria from decades ago.

Nigerian musicians like Fela Kuti invented the upbeat highlife genre, fusing jazz and traditional African music, in the 1960s and 1970s. West African highlife was the king, and it eventually influenced the genre that would become known as Afrobeats. Afrobeats started adopting more hip-hop elements from American artists like 2Pac and Biggie in the 1980s and 1990s. Afrobeats, however, really came into its own in the 2000s and 2010s, fusing highlife, Afro-pop, and American urban music into a singular synthesis driven by rhythmic drum patterns, sparkling synth melodies, and contagious grooves.

The four Nigerian music icons Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and Mr. Eazi are at the forefront of the Afrobeats trend. Wizkid, 28, who has over 25 million Instagram followers, made a name for himself in 2010 with his smash tune "Holla at Your Boy." His 2014 song "Ojuelegba" contributed to the global Afrobeats boom. Davido has recorded numerous successful songs, including "Fall" and "FIA," working with musicians including Nicki Minaj. With the release of his critically praised album L.I.F.E. in 2012, Burna Boy burst onto the music scene. Since then, he has collaborated with Diddy and Kanye West. In his own "Banku music" style, MR Eazi combines his Nigerian upbringing and Ghanaian ancestry.

Afrobeats is a multiethnic style of music that appeals to the world's African diaspora. With "One Dance," Wizkid became the first Afrobeats musician to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2016. The successful song "If" by Davido was released the same year he inked a record deal with Sony's RCA Records. 2018 saw the inclusion of Mr. Eazi on Beyonce's Grammy-nominated album "The Lion King: The Gift." Then, in 2021, Burna Boy won a Grammy for Best Global Music Album, which was a significant turning point for Afrobeats.

The figures provide compelling evidence of the genre's growing power. Afrobeats amassed more than 1 billion streams on Spotify alone in 2020 as it grew from its enormous appeal in African nations like Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria to that of the United Kingdom, North America, and some regions of Europe. Arenas in major cities around the world now routinely sell out for concerts featuring Afrobeats stars. Many think it's headed toward becoming a dominant international genre like hip-hop or dance music.

Afrobeats' future is more promising than ever as second-generation Nigerian performers like Fireboy DML, Rema, and Joeboy succeed Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy. Afrobeats serves as a global soundtrack for listeners thanks to its inherited highlife DNA mixed with modern rhythms. Afrobeats is the future's beat, as the rest of the world is beginning to realize.