From Lagos to Soweto, African genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano are reshaping global pop sonically, visually, and culturally
How African Music Took Over Global Street Culture
Twenty years ago, it would have been hard for most cultural anthropologists to predict this: thousands of people in London singing along to choruses in Nigerian dialects, packed clubs in Madrid losing their minds to beats originating from Johannesburg townships, and a South African kid going multi-platinum in the U.S. with an unexpected blend of regional sounds. Yet, here we are, all part of the same story: the rising influence of African music in the global mainstream.
Africa, long regarded as the birthplace of the rhythms that inspired most of the last century’s iconic genres, has always been a musical powerhouse. However, for decades, its impact was buried under layers of cultural appropriation and uncredited sampling by Western artists, effectively sidelining the continent from the spotlight it helped create.
Fortunately, things are changing. A new generation of African artists is now taking the charts by storm, injecting fresh energy into the global music scene.
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Highlights from Amapiano night at Zsongo Club in Madrid
Afrobeats: Nigeria’s Sound Revolution Going Global
Today’s African soundscape still reflects a diverse array of regional styles, each contributing to the movement’s momentum. However, two genres have emerged as significant driving forces: Afrobeats and Amapiano. Afrobeats, originating in Lagos, Nigeria, is known for its laid-back rhythms and infectious melodies. In contrast, Amapiano, which emerged from the streets of Soweto, South Africa, is characterised by tension, deep log drum basslines, and hypnotic synths.
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Fela Kuti, the legendary father of afrobeat, performing in 1975
At the heart of this musical wave is Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian artist often regarded as the father of modern African music. In the 1970s, he pioneered afrobeat (note the singular form) by fusing jazz, funk, and West African rhythms into something entirely new. Kuti’s raw energy and politically charged lyrics made him a revolutionary figure and one of the first African artists to capture the interest of a few Western listeners.
Building on Fela Kuti’s legacy, a new generation of Nigerian artists emerged in the latter half of the 2010s. However, this time, they weren’t just breaking through; they were rewriting the rules.
Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid brought Afrobeats to the global stage, stacking up billions of streams, selling out arenas, and headlining massive festivals like Glastonbury and Rolling Loud. Their success set the groundwork for a younger generation of artists—Tems, Ayra Starr, Asake, and Rema—each pushing the genre’s boundaries and expanding its reach far beyond Africa.
Need proof? Consider Wizkid’s feature on Drake’s “One Dance” in 2016, Burna Boy’s “Best International Act” four times win at the BET Awards, or Rema’s “Calm Down,” which held strong in the UK Top 10 for 27 consecutive weeks.
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Highlight from the BET 2023 when Burna Boy has been awarded "Best International Act"
Amapiano: South Africa’s Viral Club Sound
But Afrobeats wasn’t the only sound reshaping the global stage. A few years later, on the opposite end of the continent, another movement was quietly building—until it exploded. Enter Amapiano: a genre that stunned the global music scene, topping TikTok charts and taking over dance floors from Dubai to London.
Rooted in South Africa, Amapiano emerged as a unique blend of Afro House and Jazz, infused with club staples like Kwaito and Gqom, shaking local scenes since the early 2010s. Though its Zulu lyrics may present a barrier for global listeners, its signature energy—driven by log drum basslines and hypnotic synths—has proven universally infectious. Social media played a crucial role in its breakout during the 2020s, turning what started as a local sound into a global sonic disruption.
@djanealisha DJANE ALISHA LIVE-SET #fyp #amapiano #jealousy #dj #djane ♬ Originalton - ALISHA
Artists like Tyler ICU, Uncle Waffles, Kabza De Small, and DBN Gogo became household names, dropping tracks that transformed into viral dance challenges. Amapiano soon earned its place in global club culture, with Boiler Room, Mixmag, and DJ Mag hailing it as one of the freshest movements in electronic music.
Tyla and “Water”: The Hit That Took Amapiano Mainstream
Still, Amapiano’s true leap into the global mainstream came in late 2023, and it took a 21-year-old from Johannesburg to make it happen.
That breakout moment arrived with the release of “Water” by Tyla, a genre-blurring pop anthem built on Amapiano foundations, layered with silky R&B chords and captivating toplines.
Released via Epic Records, the track quickly became a global sensation, amassing over a billion streams on Spotify. It also achieved a historic entry into the US Billboard Top 100 (making Tyla the first solo South African artist to reach this milestone) and a Grammy win for “Best African Performance” in 2024.
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Tyla's speech at Grammys in 2024 after being awarded as "Best African Performance"
Why Afrobeats and Amapiano Are Redefining the Global Pop Standard
So, where do we stand now, and what’s the bigger picture? Afrobeats and Amapiano mark a real shift in the global music scene.
For decades, the charts were dominated by American and British acts. But now? The mainstream is making room for artists from outside the Western bubble, allowing them to enter the charts on their own terms.
These musicians are being signed and positioned as global superstars by major labels without sacrificing their local roots. Instead of adapting to international standards, they’re elevating their own traditions and reframing them as fresh, relevant, and trend-defining.
How African Beats Are Influencing Global Pop
Even more interesting? The ripple effect. The rise of African music is now shaping the sound of Western pop itself, with global icons borrowing heavily from African styles.
Just look at Drake in the US, Stormzy and Jorja Smith in the UK, Aya Nakamura and GIMS in France, or Mahmood, Ghali, and Elodie in Italy. They are all tapping into the energy of this wave—sonically, visually, and culturally.
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Details from "RA TA TA" video by Mahmood
Decentralised Sound: Why the Future of Pop Is African
The Western mainstream is showing signs of fatigue. For years, its pop paradigm—comprising predictable structures, recycled aesthetics, and manufactured emotion—has dominated the charts. But repetition eventually wears thin, and today’s audiences are starting to lose interest. What’s taking its place isn’t just a shift in sound, but also a shift in focus. Global listeners are turning their ears towards new rhythms, textures, and stories—especially from places that have long been marginalised.
In this slow unravelling of Western dominance, something exciting is unfolding: a redefinition of what musical relevance looks and sounds like. African genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano aren’t just temporary trends—they’re helping to reshape the current music scene, injecting fresh energy into a landscape that has been lacking innovation. This movement is not just about representation; it’s about redefining the standards of creativity.
Could this mark the beginning of a more diverse and adventurous cultural era—one where creativity flows in multiple directions and the global stage finally reflects its worldwide audience?
And as this sonic revolution transforms the soundscape, what impact will it have on the style, fashion, and visual language that define pop culture? Will the boldness, colour, and authenticity of African aesthetics become the new blueprint for global trends, rewriting not just how music sounds, but how it looks and feels around the world?