Businessman, Austin OKere claims he is surprised to find out that 43% of streams on music app Spotify stem from the genre of Afrobeats.
According to Demand Sage, the music app has an impressive 626 million monthly active users.
Okere highlighted Afrobeats’ global impact, noting Nigerian musicians’ international reach after Spotify’s launch in Nigeria in 2021.
What do you need to know?
In 2021, the app made it easy for Nigerian musicians to connect with a global audience.
Afrobeats’ impact is undeniable, as evidenced by Grammy wins, viral dance challenges, and sold-out performances in major arenas.
Okere compares the genre’s global reach to what was once only a dream for African artists, remarking, “You can hear Afrobeats songs on a walk, in Nando’s, and practically everywhere now.”
He also reflected on the shift in musical taste over time. In the ’90s, reggae dominated much of the Nigerian music scene, and Afrobeats was largely overlooked.
However, thanks to artists like Wizkid, Ayra Starr, Davido, Burna Boy, and many others, Afrobeats has not only grown but transformed into a global phenomenon.
Wizkid, for example, in just 12 minutes, got his the first show of his “Made in Lagos” tour at the 20,000-seat O2 Arena sold out. He is not alone, as musicians Davido, Burna Boy, and Asake have also wowed the same audience.
Comparing to Nigeria
Okere further emphasized that Nigeria should look to the rapid success of Afrobeats as a blueprint for national growth. He questioned why the country couldn’t replicate this explosive progress in its economy, governance, and development. “If Afrobeats can go from being barely recognized to dominating global charts, why can’t Nigeria as a country move from its current challenges to becoming a global leader in different sectors?”
Okere’s point comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with numerous challenges that seem to hinder its potential for greatness.
The nation has been plagued by widespread corruption, inadequate infrastructure, an underperforming economy, insecurity, high unemployment rates, and poor governance.
The economic instability is marked by rising inflation, a depreciating currency, and a heavy reliance on oil, which leaves the country vulnerable to global price fluctuations.
Additionally, the lack of investment in education, healthcare, and technology has left many citizens with fewer opportunities to thrive.
Okere argues that the rise of Afrobeats, which overcame its early struggles to become a global sensation, should inspire Nigerians to believe that the same kind of transformation is possible for the country. “Just like Afrobeats, Nigeria has the potential to take centre stage globally.
But for that to happen, there must be deliberate efforts to tackle these challenges and create an environment where innovation, creativity, and development can flourish.”
In Okere’s view, if the Afrobeats industry can emerge from obscurity and face adversity to shine on the global stage, then Nigeria, too, has the potential to rise above its current crises and thrive as a nation with immense growth opportunities.
