In 2024, Nigerian singer Tems stood before thousands of screaming, mud-covered fans at the Glastonbury Festival, delivering a performance that echoed across continents.

Just a day earlier, fellow Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr had wowed the same festival crowd.

On Glastonbury’s final day, Burna Boy set the stage ablaze, cementing Afrobeats as a global powerhouse.

“We’ve been waiting for the globalisation of Afrobeats, and it’s happening now,” Starr told the BBC.

“But it’s not just what you’re seeing today. It’s years and generations of musicians and hard work that’s made it what it is now.”

The Roots of a Musical Revolution

UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 01: BRIXTON ACADEMY Photo of Fela KUTI, performing live onstage (Photo by David Corio/Redferns)

The rise of Afrobeats is not accidental. It’s built on the legacy of Nigerian icon Fela Kuti, whose fusion of traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz and funk in the 1960s birthed Afrobeat, setting the tone for what would become today’s Afrobeats.

In 1984, Fela Kuti graced the Glastonbury stage. Decades later, his son Femi Kuti would follow suit, bringing the legacy full circle.

By the early 2000s, artists like 2Baba, D’banj, and P-Square began modernizing the sound, blending it with hip-hop and pop influences.

Their innovation laid the foundation for Afrobeats’ global explosion.

From Lagos to London: The Global Breakthrough

The Afrobeats wave hit international waters in 2012 when D’banj’s Oliver Twist entered the UK Top 10.

But the genre’s breakout moment came in 2016, when Wizkid featured on Drake’s “One Dance”, a global smash that brought Afrobeats into the mainstream.

The rise of streaming platforms turbocharged the genre. Between 2017 and 2022, Afrobeats streams on Spotify surged by 550%.

Meanwhile, platforms like TikTok helped songs by Davido, Wizkid, and Rema go viral, turning them into global cultural moments.

Awards, Accolades & Afrobeats Domination

The world is finally catching up.

Billboard introduced a dedicated Afrobeats chart, with Burna Boy and Rema crowned as 2023’s top artists.
Rema’s “Calm Down” (feat. Selena Gomez) became the first African-led song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.
Burna Boy’s Grammy win wasn’t just a personal triumph, it was a milestone for Africa.

From the MTV VMAs to the Grammys, Afrobeats now has its own categories.

Global festivals from Afro Nation to Coachella feature Afrobeats stars as headliners.

Global Collaborations, African Sounds

Top international artists now seek out Afrobeats collaborations:

Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift featured Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and Burna Boy.
Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Major Lazer, and others have all infused their music with the Afrobeats vibe.

As Billboard put it, Afrobeats isn’t just a sound, it’s a movement.

Why the World Can’t Get Enough

The secret sauce is simply rhythm, positivity and energy.

“Afrobeats is enjoyment,” Ayra Starr told Billboard. “We make high-vibrational music that makes you want to dance.”

And that’s the truth. At its core, Afrobeats is a celebration of life, love, joy, and culture.

Cultural Powerhouse, Economic Driver

Afrobeats is more than entertainment, it’s become Africa’s most influential cultural export.

It amplifies African stories, languages, and pride.
It empowers African creatives, from dancers and stylists to producers and videographers.
It opens doors to global stages, brand deals, and generational wealth.

Al Jazeera called it “Africa’s biggest cultural currency.” And rightfully so.

The Future Is Bright and Loud

Most Afrobeats stars are still in the early stages of their careers.

Ayra Starr became the youngest African female artist to surpass 100 million YouTube views in 2022.
In 2023, Burna Boy was named in Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

As more collaborations blossom, streaming grows, and live shows sell out worldwide, Afrobeats isn’t just having a moment—it’s building a global legacy.

How Afrobeats Is Rewriting Global Pop Culture