“I’m used to driving beats, amapiano kicks. But hearing a violin carry a fújì melody? That’s another angle.” —Asake
When Asake (
@mrmoney ) takes the stage for Red Bull Symphonic in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, he will be the first Afrobeats artist to bring that experience to life, reinterpreting his high-energy, street-pop songs through strings, horns, jazz and music sheets.
But let’s look at how Afrobeats got here. What cultural and systemic forces drove the success of a sound that intensely encapsulates contemporary African culture? Writer
@nelsonfromnorman____ takes us into the history and future of Afrobeats, from Fela Kuti to Asake’s ascention, and how the fluidity of the music allows for it to expand into unexpected spaces.
For NYC-based DJ,
@djmohogany , “I was able to add tracks by amapiano and Afrobeats artists, because sonically the music is house/dance. The crowd went nuts, but they had no idea they were listening to African music.”
🔗 in bio for the full breakdown on the global impact of Afrobeats.
Words by
@nelsonfromnorman____
Illustration by
@dk1994
Photos by
@shamaal 
