Alté

Alté is the alternative music movement that emerged from Lagos, Nigeria in the late 2010s, defined by its refusal of mainstream afrobeats formulas. Its sound blends afrobeats and dancehall rhythms with R&B, indie, alternative rock and electronic production, sung in English, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba with a laid-back, often melancholic delivery. Pioneered by *DRB LasGidi* and artists including *Cruel Santino*, *Odunsi (The Engine)*, *Lady Donli* and *Tay Iwar*, and carried internationally by *Amaarae* and *Tems*, alté is as much a visual and fashion culture as a genre, organized around individuality and self-expression.