A TAPESTRY OF SOUND; EXPLORING MUSIC GENRES

A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. Music can be divided into genres in numerous ways, sometimes broadly and with polarity, such as for popular music , as opposed to art music or folk music or another example, religious music and secular music. The artistic nature of music means that these classifications are often subjective and controversial and some genres may overlap. As genres evolve, sometimes new music is lumped into existing categories or else a proliferation of derivative sub-genres, fusion genres and micro genres start to accrue. Music has been divided into many different genres throughout history following a range of criteria. Streaming service spotify has around 1,300 music genres, helping to break down millions of songs with a range of sounds, patterns and structures.

 

The most popular music genres are; pop, hip-hop, electric dance music (EDM), rock, R and B, Latin, K-Pop, Country, Classical, Metal. But for the sake of this article we would be focused on music genres in Africa. Africa being a continent with a lot of countries and indigenous cultures, the music is diverse with religions and nations having many distinct music traditions. Example of some of the genres of music in Africa include; highlife, juju, fuji, afrofusion, makossa, jaiva, amapiano, afrobeat and many more. The most popular genre of music to come out of Africa can be argued to be afrobeat.

 

 Afrobeat is an umbrella term used to depict well known music from west Africa and the diaspora that at first created in Nigeria and Ghana in the mid 2000s. Afrobeat is to a lesser extent a style fundamentally, and all the more a descriptor for the combinations of sounds streaming out of Nigeria . Types, for example, hiplife, juju music, highlife, azonto music and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the afrobeats umbrella. Afrobeat has a checkered history tracing all the way back to the 1970s. it was said to have started with Nigerian artist Fela at is Kalakuta Republic in Lagos. Yet, veteran vocalist, Orlando Julius would prefer to have the world accept the class started with him. Afrobeats is a prevailing class in Africa right now with a wide range of inclusion in western media, from New York times to the Washington post.

 A concise period in the US saw him presented to the Nlack Power development and the Black Panthers, an impact that he would come to communicate in his verses. In the wake of living in London momentarily, he moved back to Lagos and opened a club, The Hallowed place, which was one of the most well known music spots in the city. He began recording with Africa '70, a tremendous band highlighting drummer Tony Allen, who has since proceeded to turn into a notable performer by his own doing. With Africa 70, Kuti recorded a progression of hits, procuring the wrath of the public authority as he handled such different issues as destitution, traffic and skin-fading. In 1985, Kuti was imprisoned for a long time, however was delivered after just a short time after worldwide objection and gigantic homegrown fights. Upon discharge, Kuti kept on reprimanding the public authority in his tunes, and became known for flighty way of behaving, for example, unexpectedly separating from each of the 28 spouses in light of the fact that "no man has the option to claim a lady's vagina". His demise from Helps in 1997 ignited a time of public grieving that was exceptional in reported Nigerian history. During the 1980s, Afrobeat became partnered with the prospering sort of world music. In Europe and North America, purported "world music" acts came from everywhere the world and played in a large number of styles. Fela Kuti and his Afrobeat devotees were among the most renowned performers thought about world music. From the 1980s to' the 1990s, Afrobeat had broadened by taking in new impacts from US funk and hip bounce. The consistently covered and perplexing Lágbájá became one of the leading figures of the new influx of Afrobeat, particularly after his 1996 LP C'est Une African Thing. Following an unexpected appearance instead of his dad, Fela, Femi Kuti gathered an enormous fan base that empowered him to visit across Europe. Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti followed their dad Fela Kuti.

 

Apala is a style of vocal and percussive Muslim Yoruba music. It arose in the last part of the 1930s for of awakening admirers after the fasting of Ramadan. Affected by famous Afro-Cuban percussion, apala formed into a more cleaned style and pulled in a huge crowd. The music required a few talking drums (omele), a clatter (sekere), thumb piano (agidigbo) and a chime (agogo). Haruna Ishola was the most renowned apala entertainer, and he later assumed a basic part in bringing apala to bigger crowds as a piece of fuji music.

 

Amapiano has its headquarters and its most loyal fans in south Africa. South Africa has so far been recognised as the home of amapiano music and rightly so. The genre originated there.

Compared to other genres, amapiano is but a recent manifestation, however, right now, the genre commands such a massive following that it is justly recognised as one of the top genres at the moment. 

 

Highlife is another popular genre which originated in Ghana. The genre has since spread to other countries, including Nigeria. Notable figures who had ruled the highlife scene include Victor Uwaifo, Osita Osadebe and Oliver de Coque.

This list wouldn’t be complete without including this genre, which is as important as any other on this list. Hip hop has got a massive following in Africa, comparable to that of afrobeat.