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Genre
classic afrobeat
Parent Genre: World/Traditional

Afrobeat is a genre of music that originated in West Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. It is characterized by a fusion of traditional African rhythms and Western jazz and funk influences. The music typically features complex polyrhythms, brass instruments, and call-and-response vocals. Afrobeat was popularized by a number of influential musicians and bands, who incorporated social and political commentary into their lyrics. Today, the genre continues to inspire musicians around the world and remains an important part of African musical heritage.


Top artists of classic afrobeat genre

Amanaz
Sir Victor Uwaifo
Bola Johnson
T. P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
Joni Haastrup
The Hygrades
Rex Williams
Marijata
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classic afrobeat music timeline

Explore classic afrobeat history by listening to songs from every decade. Click on the decade to view songs.

2020s 2010s 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1960s 1950s 1940s 1930s

Similar Genres to classic afrobeat

Discover more related genres to classic afrobeat genre. This list is ordered by similarity from left to right.

afrobeat highlife afro psych afropop afro-funk world funk beninese pop soul juju west african jazz igbo traditional police band mande pop guinean pop african percussion rare groove latin afrobeat griot instrumental funk
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classic afrobeat playlist created by Chosic

Enjoy this playlist of popular classic afrobeat music. We made this playlist using an algorithm created by our team.

Play on spotify

List of classic afrobeat artists

Here is a list of classic afrobeat artists on Spotify, ranked based on popularity, who exemplifies the classic afrobeat genre. You can find out what classic afrobeat genre sounds like where you can preview artists or sort them the way you want, just click the headers to sort.

#namePopularity instrumentalnessdanceabilityenergyacousticnessHappinesstempofollowers
1
Amanaz
42 22 60 46 22 52 116 37792
2
Sir Victor Uwaifo
30 16 63 69 30 76 129 15452
3
Bola Johnson
28 0 68 57 60 82 119 5647
4
T. P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
28 1 61 80 27 84 116 19633
5
Joni Haastrup
27 6 66 80 23 86 118 7672
6
The Hygrades
27 21 75 67 30 76 106 3628
7
Rex Williams
26 2 66 68 48 60 98 861
8
Marijata
25 2 69 71 24 70 120 11034
9
BLO
23 15 58 58 48 72 123 4925
10
Monomono
22 13 57 66 43 83 126 6887
11
El Rego
22 4 68 68 43 85 111 4205
12
Rikki Ililonga
22 0 0 0 0 0 0 4797
13
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou
21 15 71 80 14 90 118 2243
14
Eddie Okwedy
16 0 70 66 39 83 154 512
15
Vincent Ahehehinnou
16 10 71 66 10 76 130 2371
16
Gasper Lawal
15 39 57 76 28 85 105 1236
17
Afro Cult Foundation
15 0 0 0 0 0 0 1275
18
Tunji Oyelana
14 0 65 47 80 81 120 2323
19
The Tony Benson Sextet
13 0 0 0 0 0 0 758
20
Segun Bucknor & His Revolution
13 0 68 81 17 82 121 796
21
Bongos Ikwue
13 1 56 68 10 69 109 4684
22
Sweet Talks
12 1 60 80 38 81 126 2394
23
Hedzoleh Soundz
11 0 0 0 0 0 0 1689
24
The Barbecues
10 0 67 77 20 86 112 410
25
Ofo The Black Company
10 16 51 83 8 81 111 2037
26
The Anansa Professionals
9 0 76 81 52 85 100 342
27
The Mercury Dance Band
9 0 80 68 42 74 120 348
28
Mercury Dance Band
9 0 0 0 0 0 0 484
29
Ashanti Afrika Jah
9 0 72 68 41 72 140 569
30
Asaase Ase
8 0 60 77 51 79 119 494
31
City Boys Band
8 0 68 68 57 82 130 1364
32
Uppers International
8 0 0 0 0 0 0 392
33
Ify Jerry Crusade
8 0 0 0 0 0 0 491
34
Tony Allen & His Afro Messengers
7 13 68 75 45 97 108 1231
35
Dele Ojo
6 0 0 0 0 0 0 238
36
T. O. Jazz
6 0 68 43 37 53 102 259
37
The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination
5 0 76 68 77 84 105 387
38
Orchestre Abass
5 3 52 64 0 75 104 936
39
Ify Jerry Krusade
5 0 0 0 0 0 0 198
40
Horoya Band
5 0 0 0 0 0 0 800
41
Antoine Dougbé
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 344
42
Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders
4 70 53 85 64 85 100 207
43
Chief Checker
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 292
44
Jay-U Experience
4 3 79 75 7 71 118 549
45
The Harbours Band
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 407
46
Dynamic Africana
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 204
47
Kyeremateng Atwede & The Kyeremateng Stars
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 147
48
Pa Steeles African Brothers
2 0 58 57 71 78 129 186
49
Honoré Avolonto
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 207
50
Sahara All Stars Band Jos
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 614
51
Les Volcans de La Capital
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 312
52
The Founders 15
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 141
53
The 3rd Generation Band
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 435
54
Original Wings
2 20 47 79 8 89 113 100
55
Godwin Ezike and The Ambassadors
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 327
56
The Sahara All Stars
2 11 70 68 0 71 112 341
57
The Wings
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1052
58
Popular Cooper and His All Beats Band
2 1 61 81 63 97 88 209
59
Afrofunk
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 940
60
Houghas Sorowonko
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 129
61
The Otarus
1 0 66 80 36 92 91 112
62
Oscar Sulleys Nzele Soundz
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 84
63
Pagadeja
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 119
64
Saxon Lee and The Shadows International
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 119
65
Shadow Abraham With Mono Mono Friends
1 1 73 54 65 88 107 119
66
Boombaya
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 358
67
Leo Fadaka and The Heroes
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 251
68
Discafric Band
1 0 73 72 21 80 150 99
69
Hedzolleh Soundz
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 150
70
Osayomore Joseph and The Creative 7
1 7 58 63 55 82 170 628
71
Wrinkars Experience
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 86
72
Super Mambo 69
1 15 71 70 76 65 135 158
73
Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes
1 1 59 79 2 89 93 130
74
Collins Oke Elaiho and His Odologie Nobles Dance Band
1 0 58 72 5 76 113 250
75
The Wellis Band
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 125
76
Segun Bucknor's Revolution
1 39 59 57 6 26 80 119
77
The Action 13
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 96
78
Tunji Oyelana and The Benders
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 89
79
Dr. Adolf Aonotu
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35
80
Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band Of Aba
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 77
81
Orchestre Super Jheevs des Paillotes
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 66
82
St. Peter & The Holymen
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100
83
George Akaeze and His Augmented Hits
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52
84
Mono Mono
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 235
85
The Elcados
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 175
86
The Actions
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 212
87
Sawaaba Soundz
0 50 57 81 64 95 93 140
88
St. Augustine and His Rovers Dance Band
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 275
89
Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 87