Afrobeats vs Afrobeat: What's the Difference?
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One of the most common confusions in African music is the difference between "Afrobeats" and "Afrobeat." They sound similar, but they are very different musical genres with different origins, sounds, and cultural significance.
Afrobeat (singular)
Afrobeat was created by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti in the 1970s. It is a fusion of Yoruba music, jazz, funk, and highlife, with politically charged lyrics about corruption, colonialism, and African liberation. Fela Kuti is one of the most important musicians in African history.
Afrobeats (plural)
Afrobeats (with an 's') is a broader term for contemporary West African popular music, including Afropop, Afro-fusion, Afro-dancehall, and Afro-trap. It emerged in the 2000s and 2010s and has become one of the most popular music genres in the world, driven by artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and Tems.
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About the Author
Isaac Prempeh is the founder of Afropop Socks, a British-Ghanaian designer and entrepreneur based in London. He founded Afropop Socks in 2019 to celebrate authentic African cultural heritage through bold wearable design. Afropop Socks is now stocked at the Smithsonian NMAAHC, Tate Modern, V&A Museum, Natural History Museum, Barbican Centre, Selfridges, and MoMA New York.