From the ingenious sounds of West Africa, came the rise of the prominent Afrobeats genre which has dominated the music landscape and streaming platforms today. Global key players in the genre such as; Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems, and Davido have already filled stadiums in Africa, the USA and all across Europe. One can consider these artists as aspiring world stars.

Convalescent of the Afrobeat sound by the legendary Fela Kuti, Afrobeats has risen to become a dominant genre through some of its latest releases that have captivated masses all across the globe. Lucrative music streaming platforms like; Apple Music and Spotify have since then recognized the genre with their own curated playlists featuring several artists from Lagos, Atlanta, London, Accra, and all over. Global Award shows have also acknowledged the contribution of Afrobeats to the current music scene with artists Burna Boy and Wizkid receiving Grammy Awards back in 2021.

The growth of Afrobeats is not only stylistic but also substantive in nature. Several subgenres, including; UK Afrobeats and Afro-Trap are on the fast rise by artists who take care of their cultural roots in the diaspora. The influence of Afrobeats today is sizable and rapidly extending even to other genres. Renowned artists Beyoncé and Chris Brown are some of the latest stars that have confirmed this influence with their latest albums featuring Afrobeats tracks.

If you’re new to the genre, we’ve added a playlist below for you to get familiar. The sounds are often soft and melodic but even within Afrobeats there is a lot of variety, making it the perfect sound for many situations.