At this year’s VMAs, popular South African singer and songwriter Tyla won the best Afrobeats artist award. During her speech, Tyla acknowledged that while Afrobeats is a popular African music genre that has opened many doors for other African artists, she represents Amapiano music, not Afrobeats. Many Afrobeats fans were appalled that a non-Afrobeats artist won the award, which led to a bigger online conversation about American award shows boxing all African acts in one category and affirming the myth that Africa is a monolith. To avoid this oversimplification, here’s a breakdown of African music genres beyond Afrobeats that are worth exploring.
Amapiano
Amapiano is a South African music genre that loosely translates to “pianos” in the Zulu language. It is considered a subgenre that derives from the South African Kwaito, a variation of house music that features the use of African sound. While the origins are ambiguous, the genre emerged in South Africa in 2010 before eventually transcending borders. Amapiano music can be recognized through its log drum basslines, piano melodies, Kwaito, soul, and deep house musical influences. The log drum sound that makes Amapiano so distinct is credited to South African producer, singer, and songwriter MDU aka TRP. The genre is popularly known for its collaborative cross-pollination with other African genres to create subgenres such as Afropiano, Bique, and Bongopiano.
The global rise of Amapiano can be partially attributed to social media sites such as TikTok, which highlighted the genre through unique dance challenges that left people captivated during COVID lockdowns. Tyla’s Grammy win for “Water”, which would be considered a fusion of pop and Amapiano, took the genre to newer heights due to its global visibility. As Amapiano has taken the world by storm, we cannot deny its unique ability to unite people. To familiarize yourself with this dynamic African genre, check out this Amapiano playlist on Spotify.
Bongo Flava
Bongo Flava is a popular East African music genre that originated in Tanzania in the 1990s. The term “Bongo” is derived from the Swahili word that translates to “brain”. The African genre derives from the traditional Tanzanian musical styles of Taarab and Dansi with a hip-hop fusion. Bongo Flava lyrics are traditionally in Swahili, which has allowed the genre to cross borders into other Swahili-speaking countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The genre can be described as sweet melodies with dynamic rhythms and heartfelt lyrics that reflect the collective experience of Swahili-speaking people. The fusion of Bongo Flava with other popular African music genres like Amapiano has led to the subgenre of Bongopiano. Tanzanian Bongo Flava artist Diamond Platnumz, the most decorated artist in East Africa, is regarded as a pioneer for taking the genre to international heights. His collaborations with African artists all over the continent helped popularize the genre in the continent and eventually led to overseas collaboration with artists such as Ne-Yo and Alicia Keys. While the genre is still expanding internationally, it has a dedicated fan base in East Africa that continues to fuel the drive of upcoming Bongo Flava artists. Check out sweet melodies of Swahili-speaking people in this Bongo Flava playlist on Spotify.
Congolese Rumba
Congolese Rumba is a Central African music genre that emerged in the mid-20th century in the modern-day Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The term “rumba” is believed to derive from the Kikongo word “nkumba,” which means “waist,” denoting the waist-themed nkumba dance. Congolese Rumba gained popularity due to introducing bar dancing culture in the capital cities of Brazzaville and Kinshasa. The genre can be distinguished by the distinct use of the sebene instrumental section, which uses rapid chord changes and melodic embellishments, where the lead and rhythm guitarists take center stage.
Some pioneers of Congolese Rumba were Franco Luambo, Papa Wemba, and Wendo Kolosoy, who contributed to popularizing and pushing the boundaries of the genre. The genre gained mass appeal in countries all over the African continent, including Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, and Burundi. Congolese Rumba also gained a following overseas in the US and European countries such as France, Belgium, Germany, and the UK. Well-known artists such as Koffi Olomide and Fally Ipupa continue to modernize and elevate the genre through collaborations with other African artists and international performances. Congolese rumba transcends cultural and geographical borders, with Cuban Rumba being traced back to the ancient Kingdom of Congo. To familiarize yourself with the musical heritage of the Congolese people, be sure to check out this Congolese Rumba playlist on Spotify.
As African music continues to expand globally, it is important to acknowledge the distinct genres that come from the continent. Putting all African artists into one category results in the erasure of the unique African sounds the continent has to offer. The lack of intentionality gives power to international music awards who now get to categorize African music as they deem fit. Even though the intent to honor African music is welcomed, the impact can be more harmful if not done with care and respect.
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