As Nigerian descendant, I am impressed that Afrobeat (originated from Nigeria & Ghana) had gained popularity internationally in the last few years. Afrobeats is making the waves as it is now part of mainstream music genre: pop, rock, dance, reggae, R&B, etc.
It could had been popular internationally when Fela Kuti was alive (given the fact that he was an pioneer). Now Afrobeats is making the waves. Given it was classified as “World Music”. Now part of the mainstream music genre as everyone knows that Afrobeat originate from West Africa (Mainly Nigeria and Ghana). 🎵🇳🇬🇬🇭🕺
Now that is recognition. The reason why Afrobeat gained popularity internationally is because of African pop culture (which includes Nollywood), internet, YouTube, music platforms and Netflix.
In the recent years, we had K pop (Korean Pop music) with one hit wonder (singer PSY) from South Korea with a catchy tune and dance “Gangnam Style” 8 years ago when it did went viral on social media particularly on YouTube. If it wasn’t for the song Gangnam Style then we wouldn’t had some music artists from South Korea like Blackpink and BTS.
That’s how there are music markets around the world that can get unknown music genre like K pop from Korea and Afrobeat from West Africa.
Furthermore, take for example: Latin music (particularly Latin pop). Now we have heard some of music names who sings Latin pop music: Ricky Martin, Selena, Luis Miguel, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias, Sérgio Mendes, etc. The list goes on. All sing Latin.
Reggae. Bob Marley and other reggae musicians were pioneers of reggae as it was making the waves in 1970s.
And take for example: British pop music (including rock). The popularity of British music artists including the Beatles, The Who, the Rolling Stones in the US (British invasion) across the Atlantic in the mid 1960s.
So since we live in the world that is more intercontinental and multicultural with diversity, music is the universal language that we have something in common. That’s how there are music genres everywhere and that Afrobeats is the latest trends that have been popular for few years as we have mostly listened to songs which are predominantly from the West (Europe, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia).
To know more about Afrobeat (or Afrobeats), you can listen to any songs that is Afrobeat on YouTube and music platforms and streaming sites like Spotify and Apple Music (ITunes). You can listen to artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido and yes the legendary Fela Kuti.
Sources:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrobeats
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrobeat
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