Music is a global force, it has the power to bring people from all parts of the world together and change the world. It is a universal language such that you don’t need to understand or speak it, all you need to do is to follow the rhythm and let it take control over you. It has the drive to connect us, unite, guide, lead, make, and create that utopia the human race desperately seeks to achieve.
Music used as a tool for the right purposes could be a force to reckon with in the not-too-distant future. This is in light of recent happenings and testimonies in the various music industries across all borders like Drake’s “One Dance” feat Wizkid and Kyla or the celebration of black women on Beyonce’s “Brown Skin Girl” with Wizkid, SAINt JHN featuring blue Ivy Carter or the celebration of love on Wizkid’s ‘Essence featuring Tems and Justin Bieber. We should not forget Burna Boy’s break-up anthem ‘Last Last’ which was a menace on the airwaves in 2022.
All these have shown us that it has the power to draw people from different backgrounds to create sounds so unique that it transcends all barriers of colour, race, ethnicity, religion, class, academic height, and among others, that it flows to whatever rhythm you are on or whatever rhythm you want to attain.
Music is powerful. It frees your mind, body, and soul, it gives you a sense of belonging, the feeling of freedom, the passion to thrive for more and to let go of every problem you have when the music is on nothing else matters, you migrate to another dimension, it becomes your religion, your way of life, your culture and your language.
Many people do not know this, but there seems to be a paradigm shift to Afrobeats sound globally, artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, Fireboy DML, Ckay, Oxlade, Rema, and Tems are leaving no stones unturned in propagating the agenda of Africa. But in all honesty, what do we really know about Afrobeats?
Afrobeats is a music genre from Nigeria that is shaking up the global music industry. Taking roots since the early 90s, Afrobeats also known as Afropop or Afrofusion is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s.
The forerunner for Afrobeats was Afrobeat, a music genre created by the Nigerian legend, Fela Kuti, who achieved acclaim for his musical talent and involvement in post-colonial African politics. His recordings from the 1970s till his death in 1997 made a significant impact on the Nigerian music scene and rapidly gained popularity around the globe. He is now considered one of the most influential musicians in the world.
Afrobeats took off in the international music scene with Drake’s 2016 hit “One Dance,” featuring Wizkid. Breaking chart records and edging timeless feat on the Guinness Book of History. This has inspired other top acts to collaborate and incorporate Afrobeats sounds and featured African artists in their music.
So far, we have had a great ride, from winning Grammy awards to attaining top ten status on the billboard hot 100, sold-out concerts around the world, and induction to Rolling stone, platinum, and gold records. All point to the fact that Afrobeats is the new pop sound and the best is yet to come.
The star of Afrobeats continues to shine and it looks like this style is here to stay. We are indeed taking our seats at the table.
We all are on a voyage of discovery, to unearth the never-ending infinite of knowledge.
