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African music is one of the most popular genres in the world which has recently taken over the world. Some of the most popular African musical pieces that have dominated both the charts and people’s playlists in 2024 include ‘Water’ by Tyla, ‘Rush’ by Ayra Starr, ‘City Boys’ by Burna Boy, etc. Part of the reason why African music is becoming more and more mainstream with every passing year is because it is culturally rich and ancient. It has a distinctive way of expressing all aspects of life through sound and its various mediums. Whether it is a festival, social rituals, or even religious ceremonies, music has been a big part of everyone’s life in Africa and now it is rapidly taking over the world.
If you look for the technicalities, most African music pieces use melodies that are simple and short. The uncomplicated compositions make it easier to understand and enjoy. The continent has a daunting population of over 1.4 billion people, so it does not come as a surprise that it produces a wide range of musical styles and genres. As African music continues to dominate the world music industry, let’s look over to the top 4 most popular music genres from Africa!
1. Mbalax
One of the most noted musical genres in African music is Mbalax. Not just music, it is also popular as a dance form across the entire continent. This type of dance music is most popular in Senegal and the Gambia, in West Africa. It has its origin in the 1970s when the musical genre emerged as an idiosyncratic sound of postcolonial Senegal.
History:-
As to popular beliefs, the traditional form of mbalax originated from the sabar. Sabar is known as the Wolof genre that historically fused cultural and musical practices. It was practiced in different ethnic groups of Africa including a Serer music tradition of Njuup. Like other francophone countries in West Africa, the Senegalese music scene was partially influenced by blues, soul, jazz, R&B, etc. from the United States, Congolese rumba, Latin pop, etc.
Musical instruments:-
The music tradition of Senegal is quite different from other parts of the world. The songs are usually unwritten and certain types of musical styles and instruments are limited for specified genders and age groups. Following this rule, Mbalax is also different from most African music forms. In this genre, the musical instruments include synths, keyboards, and other electronic production and composition instruments. However, the distinctive usage of drums can be widely seen in this special music genre. Mbalax’s unique sound includes the Sabar, known as the rhythm drum, the Nder, known as the lead drum, and the Tama, known as the talking drum percussion.
Popular artists:-
This style is worldwide popularized by bands such as RaamDaan -starring ThioneSeck, Etoile de Dakar -starring YoussouN’Dour and El Hadji Faye, Super Diamono, and Xalam II. OYoussouN’Dour is often known as one of the best-known representatives of mbalax pop. He was also the one who is considered the one who popularized the Mbalax music genre internationally.
2. Afrobeats
If you look at the current scenario in the international charts and industry, you would find most Afrobeats songs to be making a massive wave, both in sales and chart numbers. In just a span of a few months, the industry has its new Afrobeats music that the world has become obsessed with. However, when we are talking about Afrobeats music, it is better not to confuse it with Afrobeat which is a more instrumental sound made known by legendary musician FelaKuti in the 1970s. Afrobeats music can be informally characterized as a fusion of electronic dance music and hip-hop beats with Nigerian and Ghanaian high-life rhythms.
History:-
The style of music that largely makes Afrobeats today started around the late 90s to mid-2000s. When MTV Base Africa was launched in 2005 in West Africa, artists were given a huge platform where they could show their talents and grow. Then came Choice FM’s NewAfrobeats Radio Show’ where the genre gained worldwide recognition and was trending for the first time. The Guardian named this show’s host DJ Abrantee the sole creditor of coining this particular name of the genre. This London-based DJ had credit for making the genre as famous as it is today.
Musical instruments:-
Afrobeats tend to include a wide range of instruments in their compositions. Some of them include conga, gbedu, akuba, shekere, and claves, along with Western instruments like modern-day saxophone, drums, guitar, trumpets, trombone, and even organ. One of the most common elements that you would find in Afrobeats music is that it has massive instrumental solos or big bands. You would also find complex jazz compositions in some of the most popular Afrobeatssongs. The tracks are usually very preppy, and digitally produced. If you talk about the language, most Afrobeats music is written and sung in English as well as West African languages, and even pidgin languages.
Popular artists:-
Some of the most popular artists in this genre who continue to rule over charts, magazine covers, airwaves, and social media feeds are Burna Boy, Tems, Davido, Wizkid, Rema, Arya Starr, etc.
3. Soukous
This is another dance music that was inspired by a legit dance form, Rumba. This form of dance music originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire. The late Congolese musician Franco Luambo and his band OK Jazz performed this for 30 years. This music style fuses contemporary instruments with traditional Congolese rhythms.
History
Soukous’ origins can be traced back to the early 20th century, to the urban residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. They are the ones who fused Liberian guitar techniques with the intertribal Congolese maringa dance music. Then in the 1980s, the music genre became really popular in Paris and London. It was also the only sub-Saharan African genre that was universally embraced in Belgium and France.
Musical instruments
Soukous music is enjoyed in bands where the basic lineup includes drums, brass, and three to four guitars, along with a bass guitar and vocals. Apart from that, the music style also features quite a lot variety of instruments such as guitars, trumpets, maracas, and guiro which is a gourd-shaped percussion instrument creating a scratching sound, saxophones, flutes, and clarinets.
Popular artists:-
Franco Luambo was a significant person in Congolese music in the 20th century and was one of the most important people to popularize this genre of music. He was also known as the “sorcerer of the guitar.” later on, this genre was also made internationally popular by Papa Wembe. The modern-day Soukous is made worldwide known by artists like KoffiOlomide, AwiloLongomba, Werrason, FallyIpupa, etc.
4. Electro Shaabi
Shaabi is a popular Egyptian musical genre that was infused with modern-day technology and became a well-known African music genre, now trending all over the world. This musical genre fuses blues-folk with electronic music and Arab pop. ‘Shaabi’ means “of the people,” as this musical genre has its roots in popular working-class Egyptian music, also known as Egyptian street music.
History
Shaabi originated back in Cairo in the 1920s. As it originated from working-class people of Egypt by the working class people, it is very dear to the hearts of local people and is now creating waves in the international music industry. Because of the genre’s rousing, and energetic tempo, Electro Shaabi is often used in Egyptian festivals as background music. If you ever pay a visit to this African country, you will certainly hear the sounds in buses, advertising, and most certainly in the movies.
Musical instruments
This music genre of Africa is the perfect blend of traditional and modern-day musical instruments. It is most known for its ability to create urban sounds from its rural roots. Some of the instruments that are used in Electro Shaabi are the violin, nai, riq, oud, tabla, large cymbals, and kanun.
Popular artists:-
Ahmad Adawiya was an Egyptian singer who first popularized this kind of music in the world. Adawiya was from a working-class neighborhood and frequently spoke against governmental policies along with social inequalities and incorporated that spirit into the music. Later on, Hakeem, Shaaban Abdel Reheem, and Abo El-Leef helped popularize the genre. In modern-day industry, massive musical stars like Filo, Oka Wi Ortega, and Islam Fanta, have helped a lot in making the sound heard by international music lovers.
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