The Rise of Afrobeats in the UK

Music, fashion and food inspired by Africa has taken London by storm. In the last decade, we’ve seen Afrobeats artists rise and dominate the industry and then inspire UK artists to celebrate their heritage and bring in more of their home cultures into their everyday sound and style.

So where did it all start?

Well, we all remember it a little differently, but the dynamic duo that is P-Square made it their mission to bless us with their craft way back in 2007 with their single ‘Do Me’. The duos decision to push their music into the UK scene was welcomed with clubs and radio stations championing the sound.

P-square then went on to do collaborations with artists like Akon and bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world when it came to hearing the music of the culture.

From here, we have seen the rise of artists like Wiz Kid, Maleek Berry and the goddess of Africa Tiwa Savage.

Making it mainstream

The one person who can’t be faulted and whose wave cannot be contested in Fuse ODG.

Yes, Afrobeats sound and culture had always been there, with clubs like LA Lounge still playing music from across the pond, but Fuse came in with his 2014 hit ‘Azonto’, and it was an instant success. It brought in sound and dance to the nation, which made it beautiful as it was inclusive. It encouraged all to join in, dance and celebrate this phenomenal new movement.

Fuse went on to release more summer hits that continued to build on bringing the Afrobeats sound into the UK and then respectively spreading it into Europe and the rest of the world.

New sounds in the UK:

Naturally, the inclusion of Afrobeats in the UK scene inspired the birth of Afroswing.

British Artists like Skepta, Sona, J Hus and Kojo Funds all came onto the scene and realeased hits that set the summers aflame and continue to do so.

With more artists like coming to the scene and creating a merge between genres, mixes of Afro and pop or Afrobeats and Drill and hip-hop, music is evolving, and we are excited to see what the creatives will come out with next.

Because this Summer should be remembered forever. It will definitely be the sound of summer!