Black Music Month – Afrobeats: Laying the Foundation

The foundation of Afrobeats is built on a rich tapestry of African musical heritage, visionary artistry, and cultural innovation. While Afrobeats (a genre distinct from Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat) emerged in the 2000s, its roots can be traced back to highlife, juju, and Afrobeat, genres that laid the groundwork for a uniquely African pop sound. Artists like Fela Kuti and Tony Allen were foundational, not only musically but ideologically, infusing rhythm-driven compositions with Afrocentric pride and social consciousness. These pioneers inspired a new generation to blend traditional African elements with contemporary global genres.

In the early 2000s, Nigerian artists like 2Baba (formerly 2Face Idibia), with hits like “African Queen,” brought African pop to a broader audience, merging R&B and reggae influences with homegrown rhythms to land one of the genre’s first mainstream crossover hits. D’banj and Don Jazzy pushed the envelope further with the Mo’ Hits Records era, introducing energetic beats and charismatic performance styles that became the hallmark of Afrobeats. Wizkid’s rise, particularly after he collaborates with Drake on “One Dance,” marked a major turning point—Afrobeats had gone global.

Today, artists like Burna Boy, Tems, Davido, and Rema continue to evolve the genre, blending it seamlessly with hip-hop, dancehall, and R&B, while still honoring its African pulse. Producers like Sarz, Pheelz, and Kel-P have also played critical roles in shaping the genre’s soundscape. Together, these artists and producers have not only propelled Afrobeats onto the global stage but also redefined Africa’s cultural identity through music. Their pioneering efforts form the bedrock of a genre that is now one of the most influential forces in global pop.