Nigerian superstar Davido has revealed that the popular West African music genre known as "Afrobeats" was named by the United Kingdom, not Africa itself. In a recent interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, Davido explained that the British media coined "Afrobeats" as a catch-all term to describe contemporary West African music after D’banj’s 2012 hit single "Oliver Twist" became a massive success in the UK.
Davido clarified the distinction between "Afrobeats" and "Afrobeat," emphasizing that Afrobeat is the original genre pioneered by the legendary Fela Kuti, while Afrobeats is a modern fusion genre that emerged later. He said, “The word ‘Afrobeats’ the UK gave us that name when D’Banj had ‘Oliver Twist,’ that was like the biggest song in the country at that time, so they had to put a name on the genre. But Afrobeat is really Fela’s genre”.
This insight highlights how the global rise of African music has been shaped not only by African artists but also by international audiences and media, who have helped define and popularize the genre worldwide. Afrobeats today blends various styles such as hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and traditional African rhythms, propelling artists like Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and others onto the global stage, with increasing recognition at major awards and international charts.
Davido’s statement underscores the UK’s influential role in branding and promoting African music globally, which has contributed to Afrobeats becoming a dominant cultural force in the global music industry.
