Afrobeats

Afrobeats is a 21st-century umbrella term for West African popular music and its diaspora offshoots, distinct from the Afrobeat of *Fela Kuti*. It synthesizes the percussive foundations of Ghanaian Highlife and Nigerian Jùjú with global forms like American R&B, Jamaican dancehall, and hip-hop. The sonic identity is defined by polished digital production, syncopated drum machine rhythms, and melodic, often auto-tuned, vocals sung in a blend of English and regional languages. Evolving from a regional sound into a global commercial force, it has become a primary cultural signifier for a new generation across the African continent and its diaspora.