The Impact of Afrobeats on Global Music

Afrobeat is the biggest music genre not just in Nigeria but in the whole continent of Africa. It’s one of the most influential music genres in the world. Afrobeats was originated and established by legendary Nigerian singer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in the 70s. 

Several changes have been made to the Afrobeats music genre. It’s completely different from what it used to be in the 70s, 80s and 90s. 

Nigerian music artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, and other successful Nigerian artists mainly use Afrobeat music. These music artists have made Afrobeats more popular than ever because most of them are internationally recognized. That’s why Afrobeats songs can get play time on radio and television in several countries in Europe, Asia, America, and others. 

Over the years, the Afrobeats music genre has made several significant impacts not just in the Nigerian music industry but globally in the music and entertainment world.

Collaborations

One of the major and significant impacts of Afrobeats in global music is collaboration, especially regarding intercontinental partnerships. Intercontinental collaboration was rare in Nigeria and other countries in Africa before. Still, with the Afrobeats music genre, it became possible for several Nigerian and Ghanaian music artists to make use of Afrobeats music genre to collaborate with music artists from other continents, which comes with a lot of benefits and values for the African continent; artists, and the Afrobeats genre. 

At the moment, when creating this content, many Nigerian and African music artists have collaborated with several intercontinental musicians, such as Americans and others.

 A lot of Afrobeats artists have successfully collaborated with several international artists like Chris Brown, Pop Caan, Selena Gomez, Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, Snoop Dogg, Akon, Rick Ross, Drake, Beyoncé, and Major Lazer.

Streaming figures 

Afrobeats has had several impacts on streaming numbers. Many Nigerian music artists now have millions of streams from several streaming platforms like Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, Audiomack, and other popular audio streaming platforms currently available online.

Burna Boy, Rema, Kizz Daniel, Wizkid, and Davido are some of the top and leading Afrobeats artists who are getting millions of streams every month and have billions of streams to their name.

According to the available information, the Afrobeats music genre will generate over 13 billion streams in 2022. In 2023, the figure increased. 

Likewise, in 2024, it is expected to increase because several music lovers are new to Afrobeats, especially those who reside in other continents like America, Europe, and others. 

Burna Boy is one of the Afrobeats artists from Nigeria, and he has performed in over 50 countries; he is one of the most talented music artists that has taken the Afrobeats music genre from Nigeria and Africa to the world. 

Selling African Culture To The World

Afrobeats music genre is one of the most effective tools used today to sell out African culture to other continents.

Many music artists showcase African culture in their music videos, which are now popular and accepted in several countries in Europe, America, and other countries.

Over the years, Afrobeats has been promoting African culture, especially in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and other countries with millions of Africans. 

Thousands of them now have the opportunity to know and understand their culture, and some have visited Africa because of Afrobeats’ content to experience their ancestors’ environment and culture. 

Aside from that, a lot of them now dress like Africans, which helps to promote African culture and language even in the United Kingdom, United States, and other countries of the world. 

Many Afrobeat artists are now cultural ambassadors because of their music content, which promotes African culture on a global stage and inspires a new generation to understand their heritage.

Creativity 

The Nigerian music industry is a home of creativity for millions of Nigerians who want to show their creativity to the world. Over the years, there have been several talented music artists, music producers, music video directors, music social media influencers, music bloggers, DJs, backup singers, show promoters, music promoters, and other professionals in the Nigerian music industry.

These professionals in the Nigerian music industry can only thrive with the Afrobeats music genre because it is the biggest, main, and most used music genre over the years in Nigeria and currently. 

Their success in Nigeria enabled them to succeed in other countries because the streaming platforms allowed citizens of different countries access to Nigerian music.

Many Nigerian music producers, video directors, DJs, music promoters, show promoters, and other professionals in the Nigerian music industry are globally recognized because of the talent, creativity, and hard work they put into their craft.  

Employment 

• The Nigerian music and entertainment industry is an avenue that has employed many people and made them rich.
• The Afrobeats music genre has made a lot of musicians millionaires. Also, they have the opportunity to explore several countries in the world.
• Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Kizz Daniel, Ayra Starr, Shallipopi, Tems, Rema, P Square, Timaya, 2Baba, and other top Afrobeats artists are millionaires in dollars.

 Likewise, several talented music artists have yet to become millionaires. Still, they also earn a lot of money that allows them to live a comfortable life and provide for themselves and their families.

 The Afrobeats music genre is among the most incredible and valuable things ever happening to the Nigerian entertainment industry today. It helps promote Nigerian music, lifestyle, culture, and Africa as a continent to the rest of the world, especially in Europe and America.