How Afrobeats is shaping global pop culture

By Aderinola Abimbola

The Afrobeats movement is gradually proving to be more than just a musical export, but one that has positive economical impact.

From selling out stadiums and arenas to topping international charts, the genre which started as just a vibe has become a global phenomenon.

Here are some instances of Afrobeats shaping global pop culture.

In 2021, the song of the Summer released by Wizkid ‘Essence’ peaked at the Number 9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charr. This song which featured Tems also earned a nomination at the Grammy awards. It was a wonder how a song that was mostly in Yoruba could make it to the top 10 songs in the USA.

But it didn’t stop there, in 2023, the self proclaimed African Giant -Burna Boy became the first African artist to sell out a U.S stadium of 20 thousand seats. This feat earned him multiple Grammy nominations and the Artiste started that Afrobeats artists are not just about making music, but also making history.

Afrobeats growth kept expanding over the years, and Tems an amazing songwriter and singer with a unique voice won a Grammy before even dropping her debut album.  The artiste with a unique penname wrote a song with Rihanna -Lift Me Up, and was featured by international artistes. The Nigerian artistes now has her second Grammy.

And let us not forget Rema who started making waves since his teenage years. His hit song with Selena Gomez broke records as the most-streamed Afrobeats song and went platinum in various countries.

The Afrobeats movement have been greatly influenced by so many factors, factors like digital access, TikTok trends, diaspora love, and the overall rhythm of the sound.  Afrobeats fuses tradition with trap, highlife with hip-hop, creating a sound mix that even international stars love.

According to Statista, Nigeria’s music industry revenue was projected to hit $44 million by 2023, and it’s still climbing. Streaming has made Nigerian artists more accessible than ever, and they’re owning it.

Afrobeats isn’t just an African trend, it is shaping the global pop culture.