With the global popularity of Afrobeats and its direct influence on Afro-dance, we think it’s a great time to explore what Afrobeats is and how it came to be.
Afrobeats is a music genre that defines the culmination and evolution of sub-Saharan African musical styles over the years. It focuses on percussion and complex and upbeat rhythms. Within the umbrella of Afrobeats, there are Sub-genres that make it up. These include Afro-fusion, Afropop, and Afro-house.
The genre has played a significant role in the diversification of African culture and the reach of once-niche African artists. Where artists were once confined to petty clubs and local venues, Flagship Afrobeats artists such as Wizkid, Diamond Platinum, and Black Coffee now sell out arenas across the world. The genre has continued to hit international levels and has now earned its place as one of the main global music genres.
This article is a timely read if you are a music lover interested in musical history. We will discuss different versions of Afrobeats within various African countries and how they have formed Afrobeats as we know them today. From South Africa to Nigeria, keep reading for interesting facts about Afrobeat.
South Africa
South Africa is one of the leading contributors to the creation of Afrobeats, especially with Afro-House and Amapiano. The country boasts a diversified music culture from blues, jazz, and the irresistible Zulu rhythms. This explains why tourists continue to flow into the country to taste the catchy and thrilling South African music and have a first-hand experience with the artists whose talent in Afrobeats is incredible.
The country has different types of music. One of the most widely known is South African house music, which has contributed significantly to Afrobeats music. This genre’s characteristics include long track lengths of up to 4 minutes or more, consistent melody, and an electric and upbeat rhythm.
South Africa also has Amapiano music, which has previously existed in many forms but became a popular genre in 2010. Amapiano translates to “the piano.” From its English translation, you might think this type of music is about pianos. On the contrary, Amapiano features basslines, percussions, thrilling piano solos, rattling drums, and heart-warming harmonies. All these characteristics, including the uniformed feet and dance, fit the Afrobeats music genre. Amapiano draws you in with incredible instrumental music followed by beautiful harmonies that capture you and keep you coming back.
A few of the Key artists in South Africa include Prince Kaybee, Master KG, Black Coffee, DJ Cleo and DJ Mazohista.
Another afrobeat music in South Africa is the Gqom, whose other name is electronic house. It is characterized by heavy bass beats aligned with a low, original, repetitive sound and some dance steps like bhenag, gwara gwara, and vosho. Some artists who pioneered this music in 2010 include Rudeboyz, Dominowe, and Griffit Vigo.
Tanzania
Tanzania has its spot in the music world, and its artists have made the country dominate in music to some extent. Bongo Flava is the signature of Tanzania’s afrobeats music, and it has made the country known to the world. This popular music is highlighted by artists such as Bongo Flava, who fill stadiums when performing. Diamond Platnumz, Ali Kiba, and Afande Sele are a few local artists who have taken Bongo Flava to unmatchable heights.
The other type of music in Tanzania is rhythm and blues (R&B), and the best artist is Lady Jaydee. She has given the R&B a new definition in the country. Her music life started in a church where she was a choir member and scooped several awards. Churches also contributed to the growth of this music genre because most choirs produce R&B music. Rose Muhando, the first Gospel artist in East Africa to work with Sony Music Entertainment, is a good example.
Congo
Congo has long been Africa’s music and dance heartbeat. Its capital has been a significant music production centre in the country. Due to ethnic differences, the country stuck to traditional music for a long time since communities were separated. This left the nation without a flagship genre, but things took a turn in the 1940s. Musicians later came up with rhumba music and combined it with locally made instruments and guitars that characterized the sound.
Feruzi was among the artists who made rhumba famous in the early 1930s. One of the things that made the natives like the music was that it wasn’t tribal and appealed to a range of ethnicities. Rhumba exceeded the Congolese borders, with most parts of the world loving it.
The other type of music in Congo is Soukous. Soukous is a genre of African music from Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. It was inspired and derived from the Congolese Rumba in the 1960s and gained wide popularity in the 1980s in France. As a blend of Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa, it is characterized by longer sequences of dancing and a high tempo.
Nigeria
There has been a significant transition in Nigerian music since the 2000s. This has seen the appreciation of Afrobeats in the country, with the popularity of artists such as Plantation Boys, P-square, and Tuface. Nigeria has had different types of music, some of which have existed for decades, including Afrobeat, Juju, and Highlife.
One thing that stands out about Nigerian music is its tradition, and its functionality is confirmed by how it is performed at special events such as weddings.
Mention Yoruba in Nigeria, and everybody will tell you about the afrobeats music genre. The drumming tradition among Yoruba people has never lost its taste years down the line. Drums and brass instruments are played resembling some Yoruba utterances. There is a lot of spirituality in Yoruba music, which is translated beautifully in their music.
Yoruba music has been an essential part of Nigerian music. As you walk around, you will hear this music saturating the streets of Ibadan and Lagos. Yoruba music has also birthed other modern artists who perform in the Afrobeats style. The artists include Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Yusuf Olutanji, Salawa Abeni, and Ayendi Barrister. It would be okay to say that Yoruba music has matured and is generously embraced by the new generation who sing it in the Yoruba language. You won’t be surprised to find an artist from the east singing Yoruba afro-beats comfortably.
The other type of music is the Igbo music found on the Southeast side of Nigeria, and several folk instruments, including udus, flutes, lyres, xylophones, and slit drums, all of which make the afro-beats element flow well in the genre. However, the list of instruments can’t be complete without mentioning Zither. The tribe is versatile and will adjust to any foreign style, making their music diversified. This is a 13-stringed instrument, and it is the most widely spread in the region. The natives also have brass instruments, which they import from Brazil to complement their type of music. This music is cultural, and sometimes people will use the slit drums to pass important information, wake the chief, and announce mealtimes. If you are in the Igbo region and hear the drums and bells, they signal the chief’s time to return to his village. Igbo Afrobeats music is an experience that will leave you with lasting memories.
Ghana
Ghana is another major contributor to Afrobeats. With Nigeria as its neighbour, it has continued to evolve, birthing various styles in the country. Burger highlife music is one of the core types of music in the country. Coincidentally, it also has some German roots. It began after some highlife musicians attended German schools.
A good example was techno-pop. Some elements that characterize Burger Highlife music include funk, disco, reggae, guitar, rhythms, and reggae. During the start of the music, the artists based the songs on an issue like migration, but that has gradually changed, with most of them producing love songs in the burger highlife style. Some artists who did the traditional version of this Ghanaian afrobeats music included the Lumba brothers, McGod, Lee Duodu, and George Darko. However, other artists have come up, turning the music from traditional to contemporary. They include Day Lumba, Kwabena Kwabena, and KK Fosu. Do not be surprised to hear loud highlife music on every street or homestead in Ghana. The music genre has taken the youths by storm.
Almost every Ghanaian will dance to the soothing beats of Afro music when the radio is switched on. The emergence of this music genre came after the country gained its independence. It came about due to the Ghanaian locals being exposed to the jazz, rock, and funk music genres. Several subgenres fall under Afro-music. One is Afro-rock, which is like rock bands, but the only difference is Ghanaian drums and rhythms. The afro-rock genre was started in London by Osibisa. The other subgenre of this music type was created in the 1940s by an artist known as Kofi Ghanaba, whose music was characterized by African instruments. As time went by, Fela Kuti emerged with the Afrobeat music genre, a funk, highlife, and African rhythms. Although the music was Nigerian, it spread like wildfire in Ghana, with the locals embracing it fully.
Zimbabwe
There are several types of music in Zimbabwe, with most artists honing their musical skills. One of them is Sungura music, which has existed since the 1980s and has dominated the music arena. The artists whose prowess in sungura music is unmatchable include Sulumani Chimbetu and Alick Machose. This music has maintained its authenticity among Zimbabweans and significantly contributed to Afrobeats music through its consistency.
Hip-hop is a common music genre in Zimbabwe, mainly among the youth, and has taken Afrobeats music in the country to higher levels. Artists like Ten, T.Ngozi, and Takura fill stadiums when they have a hip-hop event.
The Imbumbwe music genre has a close link with the Zimbabwean culture. The originality of this music and the acapella style have made Afrobeats appreciated in the country. The genre was developed by men who spent most of their time in the mines. They would sing Imbumbwe songs together to kill loneliness and pass the time.
Cameroon
Afrobeats in Cameroon can heavily be felt through hip-hop music, which is a growing new popular area. Since being the pioneer of the music genre in the country in 2010, Krotal, a Cameroonian rapper, really popularised music here. The rapper brought Cameroon hip-hop to the limelight when he did the football World Cup compilation in South Africa. Since then, more hip-hop artists have continued to emerge in the country. However, there is a crush between the artists since the competition has been stiff.
Ivory Coast
There has been a lot of pressure on the Ivory Coast artists from outside, but they have managed to resist it and own their music culture. However, some artists have borrowed foreign elements and rhymed them with their local rhythms, leading to the popularity of afrobeats music in the country.
Most of the reggae music in the country was made in French. This was introduced by the young upcoming musicians, most of whom were students. Their influence at the time was significant; it led to the founding of the Orchestra of the University of Abidjan.
The Coupe Decale music genre was formed after the 1999 military coup in Ivory Coast. Congolese music was the main inspiration for Coupe Decale, while DJs drove it, making it the best for entertainment in the country. Among the most famous Coupe Decale artists were DJ Mix and DJ Arafat. However, people greatly blamed them for killing Ivorian music.
Ethiopia
Music in Ethiopia started as a way of expressing religious elements. The churches in Ethiopia have long been the owners of the musical styles. Yared, an Ethiopian church father, created some of the best sounds that remain one of people’s favourites. One of the things that Ethiopian music is known for is the long-intervened notes. There are three types of Ethiopian music, including monophonic, heterophonic, and polyphonic styles.
Conclusion
It is safe to say that Afrobeats music is a diverse genre. Its influence is present in many of today’s most popular music genres. Ever since its birth, it has become the most popular genre in Africa, giving birth to many other sub-genres.
