Samklef has shockingly revealed that he and Wizkid, whose mainstream presence in the industry does not even exceed 15 years, should be credited for creating Afrobeats, presently the biggest genre to have ever come from Africa.
The Nigerian producer, whose real name is Samuel Oguachuba, took to his official Twitter (X) account on Monday, September 11, 2023, to proclaim that he and multiple award-winning artiste Wizkid actually created Afrobeats.
Samklef shared a throwback video of himself with Wizkid and wrote: “Meet the Nigerian two kids that created the afrobeats sound of today. As of 2009, Nigerian music had no title! Until these two created magic! 2010!”
Even the award categories in Nigeria were Best Hip Hop, Best R and B, Best Alternative Music and Best Reggae! There was nothing like Best Afrobeats! It was Wizkidayo who named it afrobeats! Know this and know peace! Fela created Afrobeat!”
Historically, the musical genre known as Afrobeat emerged during the 1960s and 1970s as a fusion of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, West African music (including Highlife and Fuji), and funk. This genre was pioneered by the renowned Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti, who gained recognition for his exceptional musical talent and active involvement in post-colonial African politics.
Fela’s recordings from the 1970s had a profound impact on the Nigerian music scene and quickly gained popularity worldwide, cementing his status as one of the most influential musicians of all time. The roots of Afrobeat can be traced back to Ghana in the early 1920s, where local musicians incorporated foreign influences such as the foxtrot and calypso with traditional Ghanaian rhythms like Highlife.
Highlife was associated with African aristocracy and was performed by various bands, including the Jazz Kings, Cape Coast Sugar Babies, and Accra Orchestra. However, it was Fela’s electrifying music in the 1970s that propelled Afrobeat to new heights across Africa and beyond.
Fela drew inspiration from the Black Power movement and the Black Panther party, infusing his lyrics with social commentary, political critique, and Nigerian proverbs. He openly criticized the military dictatorship in Nigeria and supported the newly gained independence from colonial rule across Africa, encouraging self-reliance and self-pride.
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