Quick Facts

What Is The Difference Between Afrobeat And Afrobeats?

Afrobeat (without s) and Afrobeats (with s) are musical genres with roots in West Africa. They share other similarities, but should not be confused. Here’s how you can tell the difference between Afrobeat and Afrobeats.

1. What is Afrobeat?

Afrobeat is a musical genre that was created by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. While he was studying music in England, Fela Kuti started a band called Koola Lobitos. The band played a blend of Ghanaian highlife and jazz. In the early 1960s, Fela Kuti returned to Nigeria and reformed the Koola Lobitos.

In 1969, a Koola Lobitos’ trip to the United States had a big impact on Fela Kuti’s music and ideas. He met in Los Angeles an African-American artist  named Sandra Izsadore (née Smith). Izsadore introduced Fela Kuti to the ideas of African-American civil rights activists such as the Black Panthers, Malcolm X, Kwame Toure, and Angela Davis.

Fela Kuti started to look more into African culture for inspiration. He renamed his band first as Nigeria 70, then as Africa 70. He called ‘Afrobeat’ the music they developed. Drummer Tony Allen, who had joined the band in the mid 1960s, played an important role in the evolution of their sound. Afrobeat became a distinctive musical style that blended influences from different styles, including traditional African music. And Fela Kuti’s lyrics became increasingly political. 

I consider music to be effective, like a weapon, to inform people. My music is like an attraction to inform people. (Fela Kuti)

Learn more about Fela Kuti’s extraordinary life and career by reading Fela: The Life And Times Of An African Musical Icon.


What does Afrobeat sound like?

Afrobeat brings together funk, jazz, highlife and traditional African music. The songs are long and can be recognized by their complex instrumentation. Afrobeat bands are often composed of several musicians playing several instruments. Electric piano, guitars, horns, percussions, and vocals all contribute to the rhythm of the songs. Afrobeat is a socially conscious music. In their lyrics, the artists address the political, social and economical issues of their time.

To get familiar with the sounds of Afrobeat music, you can start with these artists: Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, and Antibalas.

2. What is Afrobeats?

Afrobeats is a term that groups several African pop music genres. These music styles initially developed in Nigeria and Ghana in the late 90s to mid-2000s. In April 2011, London-based DJ Abrantee launched a radio show called Afrobeats with Abrantee. He used the term “Afrobeats” (with a s) as a catch-all term for all the pop music that was coming out of Nigeria and Ghana.

For years we’ve had amazing hiplife, highlife, Nigerbeats, juju music, and I thought: you know what, let’s put it all back together as one thing again, and call it Afrobeats, as an umbrella term. (DJ Abrantee)

via The Guardian

As pop music from West Africa gained popularity around the world, the term Afrobeats became more widely used. However, some people have criticized the use of the term. Some artists, like Burna Boy and Davido, prefer to call their music  Afro-fusion or Afro-pop. The term “Afrobeats” can also lead to confusion with the earlier musical style pioneered by Fela Kuti in the 1970s.

What does Afrobeats sound like?

Afrobeats is a mix of West African pop music with hip hop, dancehall, R&B, and EDM. The rhythm of the songs is catchy and upbeat. Most Afrobeats songs are not politically engaged. The lyrics are often about love, relationships, personal success, partying, and other light topics.

To get familiar with the sounds of Afrobeats music, you can start with these artists: Davido, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Teni, Fuse ODG, Yemi Alade, Wizkid, and Rema.

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