Afrobeats

Beats, not beat

Afrobeats with an s is an umbrella term for modern pop music from West Africa, especially Nigeria and Ghana, blending local rhythms with hip hop, dancehall, R&B and electronic production. It is different from Afrobeat, the 1970s style created by Fela Kuti with long jazz and funk jams and big bands. The two share roots, and many afrobeats stars cite Fela as an influence.

How the sound works

Afrobeats songs are built on rolling percussion patterns, often with a syncopated log drum or shaker groove, melodic basslines and catchy, often multilingual vocals mixing English, Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo or Twi. Songs are usually made to dance to, and many hits spread through dance challenges on social media.

Going global

Through the 2010s, artists such as Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy built huge followings in Africa and the diaspora, especially in London. Wizkid and Tems's song Essence crossed into the US charts in 2021, and Rema's Calm Down became one of the most-streamed songs worldwide. Burna Boy won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album in 2021 and later headlined major stadiums in Europe and the US.

Recognition

In 2024 the Recording Academy introduced a new Grammy category, Best African Music Performance, reflecting the music's popularity. Festivals across the world now book afrobeats headliners, and producers from Lagos and Accra work with major international stars.

Dance and fashion

Afrobeats is as much a dance and style movement as a sound. Dances such as the shaku shaku, zanku and legwork spread from Lagos neighbourhoods to the world through music videos and social media challenges. Artists' fashion, from bold prints to streetwear brands, shapes trends in Lagos, Accra, London and New York. Concerts often feature dancers and guest appearances, and the December festival season in Lagos and Accra, known locally as Detty December, draws visitors from across the diaspora for back-to-back shows.

Start listening

A good starting playlist mixes classics and new stars: Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Tems, Rema, Asake, Ayra Starr and Ghana's Sarkodie and Stonebwoy. Official artist channels on streaming services are the best place to explore.

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