New playlist now live: Afrobeats

We present our weekly playlists for you to discover new styles or even new artists, with some sounds that you need to listen to.

Our first playlist features songs in the Afrobeat style, do you know what it means?

Afrobeat is a musical style originating from Nigeria that developed in the 1960s and reached its peak in the 70s. It was created by Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician, composer, and political activist considered the founder of the genre.

The emergence of the musical style is marked by significant changes in Nigeria and other African countries. In the 60s, many African countries were gaining their independence from European colonizers. Nigeria became independent in 1960, after centuries of British rule.

Nigeria's independence brought a series of political and social challenges. The country was divided into various ethnic and religious regions, each with its own culture and identity. The struggle for political power led to several military coups and political instability.

From this, Fela Kuti emerged as a prominent figure in Nigeria. He used his music to express his political and social vision, criticizing the corruption, oppression, and exploitation he saw in Nigerian society. Fela's Afrobeat combined elements from various African musical styles, including jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional Nigerian music. The music was lively and danceable but also had strong political lyrics and protest messages.

In addition to his music, Fela Kuti was also known for his political activism. He was arrested several times for his criticisms of the Nigerian government and was the target of political persecution. His music and activism inspired many other artists and activists across the African continent.

Afrobeat has been an important form of cultural and political expression in Africa and around the world. The music of Fela Kuti and other Afrobeat artists has influenced various musical genres, such as hip hop and funk, and continues to inspire artists to this day.

Listen to our playlist and get to know some artists from the genre:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vCq9h8XM5CC4GIMR6mVb0?si=ab20e3c78f294f8a