There is a wide variety of music styles and traditions on the continent, making it impossible to answer the question of what music genre is popular. What might be popular in one region might not be the same in another.
That said, certain genres are more in demand than others in Africa. These include Afrobeats, Hip Hop, Reggae, and R&B. Over the past few years, afrobeats, particularly, has gained popularity in Africa, with artists like Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy becoming household names.
Not sure what to listen to? There are several music genres in Africa making a big splash right now.
Top Music Genre in Africa 2023
- Afrobeats
A hybrid of Ghanaian and Nigerian high life with elements of hip hop and EDM beats, Afrobeats is fast becoming the continent’s biggest cultural export, while performers and artists of this genre are driving the Afrobeats revolution
In 2022 Afrobeats was ranked as one of the most popular music genres in Africa and across the globe on Spotify. The genre itself has been spreading like wildfire for about a decade and has finally started making major waves in the US.
In the US we are seeing the beats infused into DJ mixes and club vibes more than ever before. They’re using it to build hype and get people dancing, but it’s not only for clubs anymore. Afrobeats has become a global phenomenon, transcending the club scene and becoming a huge powerful genre in its right spawning superstars like Davido and Burna Boy. (See below).
Many famous artists started their careers with an Afrobeat record and continue to use this music style in their tracks today.
“Nigerian artists who are part of the rising generation of street pop (Asake) will probably lead this pack but you’ll see some other areas of the world getting into this trend as well as other genres sprinkling this into their production.
The latest Nigerian music (Afrobeat) are Yoga by Asake, soso by Omah Lay, Abracadabra by Rexxie, Asiwaju by Ruger, and Folake by Boy Spyce.
- Amapiano
The amapiano genre - which had a major impact on the dance floors of the world in 2022 - has been embraced by Nigerian artists and record producers, yet one music blogger claims the genre is dead.
In its original form, Amapiano was a South African style of house music, but it has since evolved into a fine blend of jazz, lounge, and deep house music. It is distinguished by its distinct percussive bassline, also known as log drums.
The genre, which has roots in kwaito, spread during the Covid pandemic in Nigeria like wildfire thanks to DJ Maphorisa and MRS Souls.
Every new club banger appeared with the signature log drums - and amapiano became the most commercially successful genre.
The latest Amapiano music are Palazzo by DJ Spinal ft Asake, Sungba by Asake, Champions Sound by Davido ft Focalistic, and Rocking by Zinolesky
- Ethio-jazz
A fusion of ancient Ethiopian tribal music with expressive 1960s-style jazz and the airwave dominating notes of Afrobeats, Ethio-jazz is becoming increasingly popular around the continent as music lovers fall for its eerie, soulful sound. Marked by ancient-sounding notes, typical of traditional Ethiopian music, Ethio-jazz also displays the sensual undertones of soulful jazz.
Throngs of music lovers head on to the winding streets of Addis Ababa to seek out one of the city’s many atmospheric Ethio-jazz clubs to listen to bands such as the Addis Acoustic Renaissance Group or up-and-coming Ethio-fusion jazz band, The Nubian Arc.
- Electro Shaabi
This haunting, traditional, and often sorrowful music has been updated for a whole new musical generation by fusing its blues-folk with Arab pop and electro beats.
Originally a form of popular working-class music which evolved from Baladi (the folk music of the Egyptian belly dance) in the second half of the 20th century, shaabi means ‘of the people’. And in the latter part of the twentieth century, the Egyptian people became increasingly obsessed with shaabi, which they called ‘a new light song’ because it drew on folkloric themes to reassert a proud Egyptian identity.
For years, singers specialized in the mawal, which centers on the concept of sorrow, but also hope; now the rousing dance tempo of shababi songs has become central to almost every Egyptian wedding celebration.
- Afrikaans music
Afrikaans music is currently one of the most popular and successful music industries in South Africa Music. Following World War I, Jewish pianist and composer Charles Segal and accordionist Nico Carstens became popular musicians in Afrikaner nationalism, and so did other musicians.
- Wobe Sound (Fuji)
The 'streets' have undergone their fair share of sounds. Fuji remains a top music genre in Africa that the masses associate with, ghetto sounds like 'Galala', and 'Konto' have also catered at one point or another to a section of the streets, but the 'Wobe' sound credited to Olamide is more embracing and one that has sprung a rapid number of disciples within a short time.
The Wobe sound is a combination of Pop, and Fuji with a heavy mix of street lingua, and artists like Small Doctor, and Lil Kesh have helped promote the sound in recent times.
- Highlife
Although highlife music has its origins in Ghana, it was made popular and commercialized in Nigeria by the Igbo. As early as the 1960s, HighLife music will soon go on to become the predominant musical genre in Nigeria.
Dominant names include Bobby Johnson, Bright Chimezie, Chief Steven Osita Osadebe, Dr. Sir Warrior, Ebenezer Obey, Oliver De Coque, Oriental Brothers, Prince Niko Mbarga, Sir Victor Uwaifo, etc. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Fela Kuti also did Highlife music.
Which top music genre in Africa is the biggest trend of 2023?
Afrobeat, the popular music genre is expected to be one of the biggest trends in 2023 setting new standards for artists this year.
Afrobeat began as a musical style developed by Fela Kuti in his native Nigeria. The word “afro” refers to African roots and “beat” means it’s a type of music with rhythms from Africa.
Which music genre is most popular in South Africa?
There is no definitive answer to this question as popularity can vary greatly depending on region and demographic. However, some of the most popular genres in South Africa include hip-hop music, R&B, pop, and dance.
