{"id":4439,"date":"2019-04-15T11:50:02","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T09:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/?post_type=focus&p=4439"},"modified":"2019-10-16T13:00:52","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T11:00:52","slug":"5-afrobeats-watch-out-for-the-s","status":"publish","type":"focus","link":"https:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/en\/focus\/5-afrobeats-watch-out-for-the-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Afrobeats: watch out for the S!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The great musical styles of the 20th century \u2013 blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip hop, techno and their many incarnations \u2013 can trace their roots back to Africa. Today the continent has assimilated these trends and suggests a new take that is enthralling the West yet again: afrobeats, born in West Africa.<\/strong><\/p>\n

African music aficionados know all about afrobeat but now the term has reappeared with the addition of a final \u201cS\u201d, some don\u2019t even notice and are under the impression it\u2019s more or less the same thing. The ghost of Fela Kuti, the creator of the original afrobeat, must be turning in his grave.<\/p>\n

Fela stood up to the world, advocated an Afro-centrist conscience and denounced the rampant corruption running on his continent with soaring brass, wildly swaying rhythms and flowing political lyrics.<\/p>\n

Wizkid, Tiwa Sauvage, Reekado Banks Niniola and Davido, the Nigerian stars of afrobeats, strut around in their videos wearing the latest fashions and driving gleaming sports cars, in the company of seductive creatures of both sexes who don\u2019t seem to be expecting anything other than to have a good time. While their music occasionally recycles rhythms and gimmicks taken from the traditions of West Africa, the fact remains that ultimately their auto-tuned choruses can be easily assimilated to the dominant Western styles of R&<\/span>B, rap trap and house.<\/p>\n

The good news is that their cocktails are a hit on dance floors all over the world and on social media, attracting international stars and giving Africa a starring role in the evolution of contemporary music. During the summer of 2016, the multi-platinum rapper Drake\u2019s smash hit \u201cOne Dance\u201d <\/em>was co-written by and featured Ayod\u00e9dji Ibrahim Balogun, known as Wizkid. Reekado Banks and Tiwa Savage, a former backing singer for George Michael, Mary J. Blige and Chaka Khan, have joined Jay Z\u2019s Roc Nation label, bringing with them a winning remix of \u201cBitch Better Have My Money\u201d<\/em>, by the Bajan superstar Rihanna, also part of the American rapper\u2019s team.<\/p>\n