6 Vanguards of the Current Afrobeat Sound.

The Nigerian music scene is currently experiencing a nostalgic revival, with a recycling and resurgence of sounds from previous eras shaping the modern Afrobeat genre. As we celebrate these pioneering artists, it’s clear that their contributions not only influenced their time but continue to resonate with today’s music lovers. From Highlife to Fuji, their sounds remain fundamental to the ever-evolving afrobeats landscape.

To celebrate this, we’re highlighting veteran artists who were pioneers of various sounds, contributing to the rich, diverse compositions that make up today’s afrobeats.

Osita Osadebe

Osita Osadebe stands tall as one of the pioneers of Igbo Highlife music, a genre that heavily influenced Nigerian and African music for decades. Best known for his 1984 hit “Osondi Owendi,” Osadebe’s music is an evergreen representation of Igbo culture, blending traditional rhythms with western instrumentation. His compositions not only entertained but became anthems for celebrations and gatherings across Nigeria.

Osadebe’s unique fusion of genres like calypso, samba, rumba, and jazz into his Highlife compositions set him apart, ensuring that his music wasn’t just a regional treasure but one appreciated on a broader scale. Though the song was released decades ago, the themes of joy and unity in “Osondi Owendi” continue to resonate, with Osadebe’s influence echoing through the works of contemporary Igbo artists.

Today, the afrobeats scene draws on these highlife roots. Modern afrobeats acts like Flavour and Phyno borrow heavily from the Highlife tradition that Osadebe helped popularize, keeping his spirit alive in today’s soundscapes.

Fela Kuti

No conversation about the vanguards of Nigerian music would be complete without Fela Kuti. Regarded as one of the leading influences of Afrobeat, Fela revolutionized music by blending traditional African rhythms with jazz, funk, and Highlife to create a sound that was as politically charged as it was musically complex. His music was a weapon of protest, challenging the injustices of military rule and colonialism.

What sets Fela apart is not just his music but his stance as it regarded the political landscape in Nigeria. His boldness in speaking truth to power, along with his creation of a completely new genre, set him apart as a force whose influence radiates far beyond music. Decades after his death, Fela remains a central figure in global music. His songs are constantly sampled or referenced by Afrobeat stars like Burna Boy, who taps into Fela’s energy to craft his politically conscious music.

Today, his music continues to inspire both locally and internationally.

Adewale Ayuba

Adewale Ayuba, known as the king of bonsue fuji, remains a pivotal figure in Nigerian music history. Ayuba brought fuji music, originally a genre familiar within the Yoruba Muslim communities, to the mainstream, giving it a pop sensibility that resonated with both younger and older audiences. While fuji music was already popular, Ayuba’s creation of bonsue fuji, a lighter, more melodious version, made the genre even more accessible and appealing.

His influence continues in the modern afrobeats scene. Ayuba’s works have been sampled and interpolated by artists like Asake, who reintroduced Ayuba’s fuji elements to a new generation of listeners in his hit track Active. His seamless combination of traditional Yoruba drums with more contemporary sounds has laid the groundwork for many afrobeats artists who aim to blend indigenous music with modern pop.

For younger listeners who may not have grown up with fuji, Ayuba’s influence is often heard indirectly through these interpolations, ensuring that his legacy endures in today’s popular music.

Salawa Abeni

Salawa Abeni is often recognized as the queen of Waka music, a genre deeply rooted in the Yoruba tradition that she helped modernize and popularize. Abeni broke through at a time when male-dominated genres like Fuji and Juju held sway over the Nigerian music scene. She not only brought a female perspective to the table but did so in a way that captivated a younger audience, creating a new space for Waka music in the popular consciousness.

Her influence goes beyond music as Abeni paved the way for female musicians to break into what was once a male-dominated industry. By modernizing Waka and infusing it with contemporary influences, she appealed to a younger, more urban audience.

Haruna Ishola

Regarded as the father of Apala music, Haruna Ishola’s influence is still palpable in today’s music landscape. Apala, traditionally a slow and rhythmic genre popular with the Yoruba people, was revitalized by Ishola’s innovative approach. His use of instruments like the agogo bells, drums, and akuba created a signature sound that resonated both within and beyond Nigeria.

Recently, the resurgence of Apala music has brought Ishola’s work back into the spotlight. Asake, one of today’s most prominent Afrobeat artists, has drawn from Ishola’s catalog, sampling his song Soyoyo in collaborations like “Suru” featuring Stormzy. This blending of Apala with contemporary pop and Afrobeat continues to show how Ishola’s pioneering work endures.

Haruna Ishola’s music has reached international audiences, as seen with the 2021 track A Million by Veronica Vega featuring Quavo, which sampled Musiliu Haruna Ishola’s 2000 hit Ise Oluwa Ko Seni Toye. The global reach of this sample shows that Apala, thanks to Haruna Ishola’s contributions, has a lasting presence in both local and international music scenes.

Honorable Mention: Asa

Asa deserves a special mention. Although more contemporary, her influence on Nigeria’s modern music scene is significant. Asa’s fusion of soul, jazz, and Nigerian folk in her discography has inspired a generation of upcoming artists. Her debut album, Asha, remains a classic, with tracks like “Jailer” and “Eye Adaba” standing the test of time. Asa’s ability to blend emotional storytelling with intricate sounds has made her an icon, with her music being sampled in modern hits like Asake’s Lungu Boy. Even though Asa represents a more recent era, her contributions to the sounds shaping today’s afrobeats scene cannot be overlooked.

These vanguards laid the groundwork and foundation for the vibrant sounds of afrobeats we are all experience today. Their timeless and unique sound contribution whether Highlife, Afrobeat, Fuji, Waka, or Apala, continue to inspire new generations of artists, proving that Nigerian music is as much about honoring the past as it is about charting new directions.