Afro-pop (also known as Afro-beats) is a genre of music that originated mainly in Africa. It is characterized by its distinct sound and use of certain instruments that are native to the African culture. While afro-pop is considered to be native to Africa, it has spread far globally and is considered to be generally accepted by people that are not Africans. It is safe to say that afro-pop has its origins in Nigeria, but South Africa, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Kenya are other African countries with a strong afro-pop presence. Due to its catchy beat and the universal nature of music, it is not surprising that afro-pop has caught on in other parts of the world.

Here are some reasons Afro-pop as a global phenomenon has come to stay;

1. Unique instruments – Just like country music is characterized by the unique sound of the guitar, Afro-pop features unique instruments that are native to the African continent. This could be local drums, flute, gong, gourd vessel rattle, etc.

2. Trendy beat—while some of them might be melodramatic, the majority of afro-pop has this trendy beat that makes the listener want to move or vibe in tune with the music. It is generally a mid or fast-paced tempo that depicts good times or feelings and a relaxed and or enjoyable atmosphere.

3. Native language—music as we know has no barriers, hence instrumentals without vocals can appeal to almost anyone. Gone were the days when native African artists sang in a different language to appeal to a larger crow. Nowadays, most African artists don’t hesitate to include their native dialect in their music and the appeal is still the same, which is generally acceptable. Even African rappers use their native language to rap and it is still enjoyable. Some African artists have gotten global recognition despite singing in their native language.

4. Streaming Services—before the advent of streaming services, it was a challenge for most afro-pop artists to reach a wider audience and gain global recognition. The popularity of the internet and streaming services, in general, have boosted the audience of afro-pop artists as anyone anywhere with an internet connection can listen to almost any type of music afro-pop inclusive.

5. Globalization—it goes without saying that the world is now a global village and this means is that distance is no longer a barrier. Afro-pop artists collaborate with their global counterparts and this has increased their audience and acceptability. Most foreign artists are eager to collaborate with afro-pop artists because of the uniqueness of their sound and also to reach out to the African audience. This has proved to be a win for both parties involved.

6. Cultural shift—most African countries have embraced western culture to a certain degree. This implies that becoming a full-time music artist in Africa is no longer taboo or weird in any way. The result is that a lot of young people have gone into mainstream music as their profession and they have been rewarded handsomely. From global recognition to huge monetary rewards and endorsement deals. The African music industry pays handsomely, and it is a viable source of income and livelihood for anyone that has the talent and the zeal, regardless of age or social standing.

7. Talent—it has become obvious that a lot of afro-pop artists are incredibly talented. From artists to producers, to even dancers and video vixens. Their unique creativity has not gone unnoticed, and this has earned them a global appeal. These artists also put in a lot of work and creativity into their music so it is no surprise that their works are widely accepted. Most of them have won awards and even compete fiercely with their counterparts on the global stage.

Original article from https://hotnewvibes.com/7-reasons-why-afro-pop-is-becoming-increasingly-popular/

The songs make one feel like dancing. Bella Shmurda’s Party Next Door has no lyric I can relate to, but I start dancing anytime I hear it. Ruger’s Bounce is another song which’ll appeal to many African listeners.

just to dance, i still prefer rnb