The Recognition and Global Impact of Afrobeat Music

Abstract

There has been an uproar in Afrobeats music recently which originated in west africa in the 1960s by Fela Kuti. The musical genre has been around for decades but is not slowly starting to hit the mainstream global market with wider audiences. In this paper the different ways Afrobeats has seen growth will be discussed as well as ways the genre could be brought to a level of more recognition. With Afrobeats finally starting to see its appreciation by prestigious publications like Grammys, Video Music Awards in which the genre has recently received its own nomination it is remarkable for the African genre. Afrobeats which have been around for a long time are finally starting to be prevalent in the American market which is the most important market to reach in order for artists to go global. These themes are discussed in this paper along with song analysis breaking down the political stances of Afrobeat songs and the importance of spreading awareness.