#ABetterTime: Afrobeats battle for supremacy reaches new height

Perhaps for the first time ever, we have the big four of Davido, Wizkid, Olamide and Burna Boy dropping albums in the space of four months as each of them continues to make statement as to who is Afrobeats biggest star. Tracing their rise to prominence, the trio of Olamide, Wizkid and Davido arguably attained... Read More

Next Rated, The Music Blog

Afrobeats, Burna boy, Davido, Olamide badoo, wizkid

November 6, 2020

The long walk to freedom of Grammy-grovelling African music industry

When the Recording Academy announced the renaming of the Grammy ‘Best World Music‘ album category to ‘Best Global Music‘ album, to avoid “connotations of colonialism“, it was a clear indication that the award platform was still struggling to embrace music from regions that were colonised in the 19th and 20th century; particularly Africa. If any region deserves... Read More

Next Rated, The Music Blog

Africa’s Grammys, african music, Afrobeats, Grammy Awards

October 3, 2020

Deep Dive: 60 years after independence; has Nigerian music come of age?

Nigeria’s independence anniversary should not just be about politics or governance, it is supposed to be emancipation across every sector and industry and music is not left out. Since 1960, the Nigerian music industry has evolved from a lot of genres to the level it is today. From Highlife, Jazz to Juju, Apala, Fuji, R&B,... Read More

Deep Dive, Next Rated

#Nigeria60andUseless, Afrobeats, Apala, Fuji, Highlife, jazz, Juju, pop, R&B

July 19, 2019

Drums, attitude, spirit: Afrobeats is alive on Beyoncé’s ”The Lion King: The Gift”

Beyoncé just might be the necessary ingredient to rocket Afrobeats into the mainstream US music scene,” Quartz Africa wrote days ago after it was revealed that The Lion King album would feature Wizkid, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Tiwa Savage, Mr. Eazi and Tekno. These immaculate selection of Afrobeats artistes was Beyonce (who produced and... Read More

Culture, The Music Blog

Afrobeats, Beyoncé, Burna boy, Mr Eazi, Shatta Wale, Tekno, The Lion King: The Gift, tiwa savage

February 4, 2019

Davido talks Afrobeats and a future career in politics on UK’s Channel 4

Piggybacking off Davido‘s sold out London show at the 02 Arena, which buzzed on social media two weeks ago and has increased his celebrity capital, he was recently a guest on UK’s Channel 4 hosted by Jasmine Dotiwala to discuss his music career, Afrobeats and a future career in Nigerian politics. With a slew of Nigerian entertainers... Read More

The Media Blog

Afrobeats, Davido, Jasmine Dotiwala, UK's Channel 4

January 22, 2018

The Music Blog: Education and music, Sean Tosin thinks you can have it all

For those who have been following Nigerian music since its first post-democratic wave, will instantly remember that one of the most successful rappers of that time, Naeto Chikwe (otherwise known as Naeto C) built his entire music persona around his academic achievements, coining the catchphrase, “The Only M.C with an M.Sc. Sure that M.Sc might... Read More

The Media Blog

Afrobeats, Music Blog, pop, Sean Tosin

August 7, 2017

The Music Blog: Is anyone else curious about the ‘UK Afrobeat’ scene?

As African popular music continues to segue into radio playlists all over the world, much is heard but little is known about the UK’s Afrobeats scene. The first time Afrobeats came under cross examination came after critics and purists alike kicked against the labeling of post-modern Afropop music as Afrobeats, as if to seemingly imply... Read More

The Music Blog

afrobeat, Afrobeats, fela, Maleek Berry, The ris

August 2, 2017

“My body understood Fela’s music before my head” | Paul McCartney, Talib Kweli, other music icons share thoughts on Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

Fela, the irreverent, the maverick, the musical genius, the unfettered, Abami Eda, first of his name. This day in 1997, the world received the news of the death of the greatest musician and disruptor of his time and indeed, now. Exactly two decades after his death, Fela Anikulapo Kuti remains a worldwide icon and a... Read More

Thinking Through

20 years, Afrobeats, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Icon, Music, Paul McCartney

June 12, 2017

UK: Afrobeats comes to Africa Oyé with youth dance battles and more

by Rachel Ogbu If you are visiting the UK this Summer then you must arrange to stop at the Africa Oyé festival in Liverpool this year which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The sounds and moves of Afrobeats return to Liverpool – turning the city into an Afrobeats Zone. The festival this year promises to be bigger than... Read More

United Kingdom

Africa Oyé, Afrobeats, festival, uk

December 26, 2016

‘Best live performance in recent times’ | Highlights from Bez Live music concert [PHOTOS]

Think of Afro beats, rock, jazz, soul and more and only one concert comes to mind. The Bez Live concert was beyond amazing and fans agree that the memories would not be set aside for a long while. The festival-styled concert held at the Muri Okunola Park and kicked off at 7:00pm with performances from... Read More

Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti goes under the knife

Award-winning Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti is currently at an undisclosed hospital after having an emergency surgery. This was known to the public after his sister, Yeni Kuti shared on her Instagram account page, a photo of the 53-year-old singer after the operation. She captioned it: “Femi Kuti after the operation. Smiling, high on morphine. It’s a morphine... Read More

Afrobeats, Femi Kuti, surgery, Yeni Kuti

December 20, 2012

CNN profiles D’banj, WizKid, May7ven as new generation Afrobeats stars

Step into any of the countless nightclubs in Lagos and you’re bound to find yourself immersed in a sonic journey of pulsating beats, groovy samples and hip-hop kicks. In a megacity where everybody loves to dance, the tone is set by the infectious sounds of Afrobeats — a growing music movement that’s struck a chord... Read More

Afrobeats, Anglophone West African music, Atumpan, D'banj, Fela Kuti, May7ven, mobo awards, R2BEES, wizkid

June 20, 2012

Factory78tv’s exclusive interview with Afrobeats artiste/producer Dj Zeez

by Seyi Lawal Factory78tv caught up with Afrobeats artiste/hit maker Dj Zeez at a Smade entertainment event held at Yager bar in central London. The “fokasibe and Bobbie FC” crooner is in the UK touring with SMG’s Sauce kid. In this brief interview Dj Zeez talks about his current Vanilla records,album plans/directions and more importantly... Read More

Afrobeats, artiste/producer, Dj Zeez, factory78tv

January 27, 2012

Factory78tv interviews ChoiceFm’s DJ Abrantee on claims he created The Afrobeats Genre

by Chi Ibe In a recent interview with Choice’Fm’s Dj Abrantee in The Guardian Newspaper , it was reported that the host of the popular Afrobeats radio show claimed to have formed the word “Afrobeats” to describe a new genre of the African music invasion into the UK. This caused a storm in the... Read More

Afrobeats, ChoiceFm, dj abrantee, factory78tv