Throughout human history, there has been a need for celebration, which festivals honour. With the increasing global popularity of Afrobeats and the migration of African people, the number of Afrobeats festivals across the globe has risen. Let's take a closer look at some of the most notable festivals, their history, key figures, and recent developments.

1. Afro Nation

Founded in 2019 by Nigerian entrepreneurs Obi Asika and Smade, Afro Nation has quickly risen to prominence as one of the largest Afrobeats festivals globally. Despite facing challenges such as cancellations due to COVID-19 and other logistics issues, Afro Nation returned to Portugal in 2022 after its 2019 debut.

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2. Felabration

Felabration is an annual festival held in Lagos, Nigeria, honouring the legacy of Fela Kuti, the father of Afrobeat music. Established in 1998 by Kuti’s family, it features live performances by various artists, debates, dances, and art exhibitions.

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3. Afrochella (now Afro Future)

Initially known as Afrochella, this festival has rebranded to Afro Future while maintaining its mission to celebrate African culture and creativity. Started in 2019 by Abdul Abdullah, the festival is organised by Culture Management Group. Held in Ghana in December, it was part of Ghana’s “Beyond Return” initiative aimed at attracting Africans in the Diaspora as tourists.

4. Afrobeats Festival

The Afrobeats Festival serves as a platform for showcasing the genre's best talents in  Berlin, Germany. While specific details about its history and ownership are less documented than Afro Nation's, it is recognized for celebrating the rich tapestry of Afrobeats music and culture through performances and community engagement.

Davido’s performance at Afrobeats Festival in Berlin, Germany.

Afrobeats Festival 2023 In Berlin Germany

5. Africa Festival Wuerzburg

One of Europe’s oldest African festivals, the Africa Festival Wuerzburg in Germany, showcases a wide array of African cultures through music, dance, food, and crafts. Established over 30 years ago, it continues to be a significant event for promoting African heritage including smudges  of Afrobeats.

35th Africa Festival Würzburg 2024 Teaser

6. Afrikaburn

The Afrikaburn festival in South Africa features a diverse range of musical genres, including Afrobeats, as part of the Africa Burns Creative Projects. The event was originally conceived by Paul Jorgensen and was initially called Afrika Burns before being changed due to negative connotations. Known for its unique blend of art, music, and community spirit, the festival takes place in the Tankwa Karoo desert at Quaggafontein, which translates to the fountain of Quagga. It has been held annually since 2007, and the current Quaggafontein location was gifted to the festival by the Mapulu Trust.

AfrikaBurn 2024

7. Bole Festival

Bole Festival is a vibrant annual food and music event held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, celebrating the rich culinary heritage of the region. The festival centers around the popular street food "bole"—grilled plantain, often served with fish or other accompaniments—while also featuring live music performances, predominantly from Afrobeats artists. Known for its unique combination of food and culture, Bole Festival draws a large crowd of food enthusiasts and music lovers alike. The event showcases not only local cuisine but also a fusion of contemporary African music, arts, and fashion, making it a distinctive cultural experience that celebrates the spirit of Port Harcourt and the wider Nigerian cultural landscape.

Odumodu Blvck performs at the Bole festival in Port Harcourt

8. Afrofest

Afrofest is one of North America's largest and longest-running African music festivals, held annually in Toronto, Canada. Established in 1989, the festival celebrates the richness and diversity of African culture through live music, dance, art, and food. With performances from both emerging and renowned African artists, Afrofest has become a cornerstone of Toronto’s cultural calendar, showcasing genres like Afrobeats, highlife, soukous, and traditional African rhythms. The event is known for its lively atmosphere, bringing together tens of thousands of attendees each year to experience African music and culture in an inclusive and family-friendly environment

Alikiba at the AFROFEST 2024

Flytime Fest

Flytime Fest is one of Nigeria's most prominent annual music festivals, held in Lagos during the December holiday season. Organized by Flytime Promotions, it is renowned for bringing together a diverse lineup of top-tier Nigerian and international artists, primarily within the Afrobeats, hip hop, and R&B genres.

Davido Headlines the Flytime Fest

These festivals highlight the growing influence of Afrobeats on the global stage and serve as crucial platforms for cultural exchange and celebration within communities worldwide. Each event uniquely contributes to the rich tapestry of African music culture while fostering connections among artists and fans.

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Of course, music is a global thing. It’s something that almost everyone worldwide will enjoy in some form. Even those who do not actively listen to music will find that they are exposed to it in some form. The radio might be on in the workplace; music may be used on TV and in film; it may even be used in games.

The influence and impact that music has had can’t be underestimated or understated. However, what is popular in one location can’t always be said to be the same in another. Africa is certainly no different in this regard.

Africa’s growing influence on music

Africa’s place within music has always been possible to see. As mentioned, there are forms of music that have been popularized worldwide that clearly have the continent’s influence. Hip-hop can be one of those that has been widely enjoyed by people in the US, with most artists in this genre coming from African heritage.

Afrobeats is one form of music that has started to experience its own growth. Hearing it in today’s charts with leading artists creating headlines is possible. Individuals including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, and Mr Eazi (all Nigerian) are just some of the most famous artists within this category.

The genre is also used to create sound effects given its global appeal. It’s possible to find it being used within online videos on YouTube, or in commercials created for TV and radio. The rate at which the music genre is growing, it wouldn’t be a shock if we were to see it being used more widely in the near future.

What are the most popular music genres in Africa?

Given that 54 different countries form the continent, each ranging in size and with its own culture and traditions, it’s hardly shocking that there are many differences when it comes to the type of music enjoyed. As mentioned, there are certain musical genres that are exclusively found within the borders of one country that may not have spread like many of those that can be considered more common.

That said, it can be argued that there have been many different instances of music being infused with African culture. Genres like African hip hop and African heavy metal are some examples.

As a result of the different preferences that can be found, it can be hard to identify what the top 12 most popular genres are. However, a common belief suggests that the following is how it can be considered:

1. Rap

Rap has found a significant foothold in African music, drawing heavily on the genre’s origins in African American culture. African rap blends local languages and rhythms, creating a unique style that's resonated across the continent. Countries like South Africa and Nigeria boast some of the biggest rap scenes, with artists like Sarkodie (Ghana) and Nasty C (South Africa) rising to international fame.

2. Hip Hop

African hip hop, while similar to rap, often incorporates a variety of traditional and modern elements, making it distinctive. It has been influenced by global hip hop culture but also speaks directly to the experiences and struggles of African people. Artists like Cassper Nyovest and Khaligraph Jones are among those shaping this genre in Africa.

3. Afrobeats

Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat (created by Fela Kuti), is one of the continent's most successful musical exports. Originating from Nigeria and Ghana, Afrobeats is a fusion of West African sounds, jazz, funk, and electronic music. Artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Rema have brought Afrobeats to international recognition.

4. R&B

R&B in Africa has grown exponentially, fusing Western rhythm and blues with African melodies and themes. African R&B tends to incorporate more emotive storytelling, and it's often sung in local languages or in a mix of English and native tongues. Tanzanian artist Diamond Platnumz and Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage are among the genre's prominent figures.

5. Electronic/Dance

Electronic music is becoming increasingly popular in Africa, with genres like Afro-house and Gqom gaining traction, especially in South Africa. DJs and producers like Black Coffee have helped make Afro-house a global sensation. The upbeat, rhythmic nature of electronic dance music has made it a staple at festivals and clubs across the continent.

6. Amapiano

Amapiano, originating in South Africa, is one of the most exciting recent developments in African music. It’s a house music subgenre that blends jazzy piano melodies, deep house, and kwaito (another South African genre). Artists like Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa have propelled this genre to worldwide attention, particularly in dance clubs and on social media platforms like TikTok.

7. Mbalax

Mbalax is a Senegalese music style made famous by Youssou N’Dour. It blends traditional Senegalese rhythms like sabar drumming with modern pop and jazz influences. Mbalax is particularly popular in Senegal and Gambia but has spread to some parts of Europe as well.

8. Soukous

Soukous is a fast-paced, guitar-driven genre that originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The music is heavily based on traditional rumba rhythms but infused with modern dance beats. It's known for its infectious, upbeat tempo, making it a favorite in dance halls across Africa and beyond.

9. JuJu

JuJu music, native to Nigeria, is deeply rooted in the traditional Yoruba culture and is performed using percussion instruments like talking drums, as well as guitars. Originating in the early 20th century, it has evolved over time and remains one of the most prominent music styles in Nigeria, often performed during celebrations and ceremonies.

10. Highlife

Highlife is a genre that originated in Ghana and spread across West Africa. It’s a fusion of traditional Akan music, jazz, and brass band sounds. Highlife music, with its jazzy horns and upbeat rhythms, became particularly popular in Nigeria as well, thanks to artists like E.T. Mensah and Victor Olaiya.

11. Tarabu

Tarabu is a popular genre in East Africa, particularly along the Swahili coast in Tanzania and Kenya. It blends traditional Arabic and Swahili sounds with Indian and Persian influences. Its melodies are often emotive and incorporate themes of love and life struggles. The genre has been widely embraced in Zanzibar and coastal cities like Mombasa.

12. Bongo Flava

Bongo Flava, originating from Tanzania, is an East African spin on American hip hop and R&B, mixed with reggae, Afrobeats, and local Tanzanian rhythms. It has become immensely popular across East Africa, with artists like Diamond Platnumz and Ali Kiba leading the charge. The genre is known for its catchy beats and lyrics addressing social and political issues.

Some of these genres are more widely known than others. For instance, the first five of those on the list of ten can be heard globally. They have each entered the mainstream music industry, with big artists having had success in the charts with these genres.

However, the final seven are more specific to Africa. The Mbalax genre of music is a popular Senegalese music style but it’s largely confined to a handful of Western African countries and a very few in Europe. At the same time, Soukous - a fast-paced guitar-driven style of music originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has started to spread widely. It can be heard in a few countries around the continent, as well as within select locations across Europe where African culture can be found.

Will Africa’s music scene continue to grow and expand?

With the way that music is able to spread and be heard today, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw African music gain further traction.

Tools like social media, YouTube and other modern-day technologies are extremely powerful. They have made the world smaller from a digital POV, allowing for the elimination of virtual barriers. With these barriers gone, people can share what they hear or create more freely, and with more diverse audiences.

It may only take one individual to create a sound that goes viral for the genre to become popular. If this happens, it could help to propel the African music industry to new heights.

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STREAM: 'Chinemeze' by Chinedu ft. Ojadiligbo

Chinemeze is a modern traditional sound driven from the old (akwụnechenyi) mascurade music mostly popular in the eastern part of Nigeria basically idemmili in Anambra State where both Chinedu (Ahubalezeama) and Ojadiligbo are from.

Chinedu has worked with a lots of Nigerian top celebrities including: Tekno, Flavour, Masterkraft, Selebobo and many more.

Chinedu is dropping EP in a month time. So get ready to update your playlist as you enjoy "Chinemeze".

DOWNLOAD AUDIO - 'Chinemeze' by Chinedu ft. Ojadiligbo

LABEL: BRAVO ENTERTAINMENT.
Artist Name: CHINEDU ft OJADILIGBO
Song Title ; CHINEMEZE
Instagram: chinedu_bravo
Twitter: @BravoChinedu
Facebook page: Ezeani Chinedu
TIKTOK: @ezeanichinedu60
YOUTUBE: @CHINEDU_BRAVO

Stream, Download, Enjoy and Share

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Popular Nigerian musician, and songwriter Stanley Omah Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, revealed in his recent interview with media personality, Adesope Olajide, on Afrobeats Podcast, that he had a hard time adjusting to his sudden rise to stardom, which led him to a bad mental state. He made this known when asked if there was pressure on him following the release of his hit single, Which gained widespread recognition in early 2020 after his self-produced single, Bad Influence, went viral on social media, and also how he handled the pressure.

Omah Lay revealed, "Of course there was pressure…it was a jump, at First it kinda shaked, put me in a bad mental state, cause I was still tryna learn…but with time I got more comfortable".

When he was asked what it was like going public to explain his metal feelings, he had this to say "If I can put my vulnerabilities in my song, then I can talk about them. My music is all about my real life experiences, and I know the world is listening to it.”

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Many people think Afrobeat and Afrobeats are the same, especially with the dissemination of African music to new listeners beyond the shores of the continent in recent times. Music from Africa is diverse and inclusive, led by genres of various regions. These include; the Amapiano of the South, Bongo Flava of the East, Chaabi of the North, Afrobeats of the West and Soukous of the Central Region of the continent. However, popular African music in recent years is often being tagged as "Afrobeats" by the giants of the global music industry and some music fans as well, disregarding the uniqueness and originality of the various genres inaccurately or purposefully classified under it. The recently launched Billboard U.S. Afrobeats chart is a perfect example, a non-Afrobeats record like 'Kwaku The Traveller' by Ghana's Black Sherif, the 5th song on the chart has been boxed in the same category as 'Finesse' by Pheelz, on a supposed 'Afrobeats' chart. Observations like these prompt the question: Is Afrobeats more of a culture than a genre? (A topic for another day).

"Before Abraham, there were men," permit me to use these words. Prior to Afrobeats, African music has been consistently taking shape, legends like Fela Kuti, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Miriam Makeba, King Sunny Ade, Youssou N'Dour, Sunny Okosun, Brenda Fassie amongst others have been exhibiting the beauty of African music at different levels. During the Aforementioned area, the 'Afrobeat' genre was a major player in the African music sphere, and its major proponent was the legend, Fela Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti popularly known as Fela Kuti. Developed in the late 1960s, it had a salient influence on the contemporary Afrobeats style.

What is Afrobeat?

Afrobeat, without the letter 's', is a music genre that involves the fusion of elements of West African musical styles such as fuji music, highlife, jazz, soul and funk influences, with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms, and percussion. It was developed in the late 1960s by Nigerian legend Fela Kuti, who is responsible for pioneering and popularizing the genre both within and outside Nigeria.

Afrobeat in its core essence was motivated by maladministration, coups, human rights abuse, corruption, and other problems in Nigeria when Fela was alive. It was Fela Kuti's tool for social activism which focused on sensitizing the people about their rights and the ills of the government.

Over the years, the genre has remained preserved and still impactful to this day. Artists like Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, and Made Kuti have all earned Grammy nominations for their Afrobeat projects. Seun Kuti's 'Black Times' was nominated for Best World Music Album (now Best Global Music Album) at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019. Femi Kuti has earned 6 Grammy nominations while Made Kuti made his Grammy nod debut this year with 'Legacy+', a joint LP with his father, Femi Kuti.

Besides Femi, Seun, and Made (Kutis), artists of the 2000s and present following in the footsteps of Fela Kuti are Franck Biyong and Massak from Cameroon, Segun Damisa and the Afrobeat Crusaders, Newen Afrobeat from Chile, Eddy Taylor and the Heartphones from Cologne, Germany, Bantucrew, the Albinoid Afrobeat Orchestra / Albinoid Sound System from Strasbourg, France, Abayomy Afrobeat Orquestra, Karl Hector and the Malcouns from Munich, Germany, Afrodizz and Dele Sosimi and the ex-Africa '70 members Oghene Kologbo (guitar) with Afrobeat Academy, Nicholas Addo-Nettey who is also known as Pax Nicholas, with Ridimtaksi both based in Berlin, Germany. Namibian artist EES (Eric Sell) associates Afrobeat, Reggae and Kwaito.

What is Afrobeats?

The definition of Afrobeats is quite subjective. Some would argue that it is more of a culture, while others will lean more towards the term being a music genre. The definition has seen different perspectives from different people.

While some see 'Afrobeats' as an overarching term for contemporary West African music, others see it as a specific genre of music. They have also described it as an umbrella of popular music in West Africa.

Sadof Alexander made a remark that Afrobeats gets its distinct sound from a couple of different influences. She said; "the style is anchored in West African music styles, particularly highlife music, American jazz and funk, creating a hybrid sound from across the continent." The writers at Masterclass see Afrobeats as a loose affiliation of popular music that draws on African and Western music, including juju, dancehall, soca, Naija beats, house, and hiplife.

The Afrobeats conversation cannot hold water without the likes of 2baba (2face, Innocent Idibia), D'banj and P-Square in the mix. Prior to artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Flavour, Mr Eazi, Rema, CKay and others, they had the game on lock for years, with three decades between them.

Afrobeats is currently the biggest genre in and from Africa right now, it has gained enormous success and acceptance in different parts of the world. Charting in Europe and the Americas, it has earned platinum and gold certifications in the United States, United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, among many other countries. 'Love Nwantiti' by CKay, arguably the most successful Afrobeats record of all time is currently 3x platinum in Canada and Portugal, platinum in the United States, Australia, Poland, Austria, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The record also has gold certifications in Germany, Spain and Denmark. Wizkid's 'Essence', assisted by Tems, is another all-time successful Afrobeats record, released in 2020 under the critically acclaimed 'Made In Lagos' LP, the song has earned multiple certifications and a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

Burna Boy, one of the poster boys of Afrobeats, has been nominated and won at the Grammys. In 2021, he became the first Nigerian to earn a Grammy win since Babatunde Olatunji in 1991. He is also the first Nigerian to do it with his original work, the likes of Babatunde Olatunji, Siriku Adepoju and Wizkid all earned the Grammy gong for their contributions to foreign works.

The past few years have been phenomenal for Afrobeats, marking an important crossover moment in the genre's history. Many of us have been fortunate to witness its frontline artists get Grammy wins and nominations, platinum and gold certifications in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and concerts held in major cities of the world.

Afrobeat and Afrobeats: beauty in disparity

The difference between Afrobeat and Afrobeats exceeds the letter 'S' that distinguishes both genres. Although Afrobeat influenced Afrobeats, there is a disparity between both genres.

Afrobeat (without an 's') is a genre of music that came in the late 1960s by the legend Fela Kuti. He was revolutionary, his music was a tool for social activism, and he was about politics, oppression, revolution, education, and so on. Afrobeat songs can run 10 minutes long, and they’re best performed live. It is not fast-paced, intended to be consumed in a rush. Afrobeat was and is predominantly used as a tool for social activism. Afrobeats follows an entirely different route.

Afrobeats (with the 's') is more focused on the delivery of melodious beats that draw in crowds, as people move their bodies to the rhythm. It is highly percussive. Sometimes there’s auto-tune, but most times it’s about dancing, it’s about joy, it’s about joie de vivre, it’s about life, it’s about spending, it’s about partying. It’s very rare that Afrobeats itself is political. It’s more about, let’s dance, let’s be happy.

Popular music themes for Afrobeats artists include; love, money, and sex, accompanied by a wonderful combination of sounds that’s irresistibly dance-worthy. Most clubs in the UK as well in the US have been recording a continuous increase in the demand for Afrobeats styled sound to be played regularly as it is the rave of the moment in the world of music.

Twitter: @Peter_OKH

The post The Real Difference Between Afrobeat and Afrobeats appeared first on NotjustOk.

The 25:17 interview had Davido saying a lot at the international music event, Midem, yesterday 6th of June where he talked about Afrobeat, his journey into the Nigerian music scene and how much he has evolved.

In this interview, the Nigerian pop star gave a rundown about his journey and how he started in the United States but eventually made it back home in Nigeria. He also talked about his record deal with Sony and how frustrated it got him as he felt he wasn't producing the kind of music he should be producing.

Talking about his success in the music industry and his father's role in it, Davido stated that his father had initially not been in support as he wanted him to go to school and being the only musician in his family made it tougher. The singer went further to explain the Nigerian music industry, stating that his father's wealth did not give him the upper hand in reality as people already judged his wealth, and since they assumed he was already getting it easy financially, the struggle was made tougher for him and unlike other artistes he had to work twice harder o prove he is meant for the industry and he is not just throwing wealth around.

Speaking further, the IF crooner said;"When I was trying to promote my music, it was hard for me... it's always harder for me because... I'm not going to lie to say I'm from the street... I am not from the street... most of my friends all grow up from the street ... I'm in touch with the street in Nigeria but I ain't grow up in the street and people feel like I have the upper hand, so I have to work like extra hard ... I bet you if my music was just like 'ok-ok, regular' i bet you people won't listen to me. my music had to be exceptionally good ... for them to accept... I had records on records, hits on hits... to be honest, I don't even think people agree that ' yo this boy is bad!' until probably like three years ago and I've been doing this for seven years. There was always an excuse; if it's daddy it's something else. I had to work extra hard and it's funny because you'll think I didn't have to work that hard because of my dad but to get out of that shadow that I'm from a wealthy family"

Well, that was the story, the narrative has changed and Davido revealed that most wealthy men in Nigeria whose kids are going to music are now giving support to their children because of him and his success is obviously something his father is now proud of.

The Afrobeat star also spoke about the importance of African music in the western world and the beauty of how it is being embraced presently, the longevity of African music as compared to Western sound and his strategy or lack of any in conquering the global music scene with Afrobeat.

This interview shows a Davido who has grown in the industry and is armed with appropriate information about he is as an African and has made his patriotism for his continent his weapon, letting all know that he is proud to be African, not because he's from there, but because he knows and understands what being from there means and the resources the continent produces. The interview is insightful and hilarious and definitely one you should watch.

So watch it below;

The post "If My Music Was Regular, People Won't Listen To Me" - Davido Speaks At Midem appeared first on NotjustOk.