Nigerian singer Joeboy has said the Afrobeats genre is experiencing what he described as a “purge,” noting that the sound is moving away from what he termed “gimmicking “and returning to its essence.
The singer made the remarks midway through his performance at his sold-out Valentine’s Day concert in Lagos, where he told fans that the genre is shifting back to “real music.”
“Afrobeats right now is going through a purge. We are getting back to the times where real music is going to stay – no more gimmicking and all of that.
“I can feel it already, and I am happy that we are getting back to those zones where the music speaks. I thank God for that.”
“Afrobeats is going through a purge” — Joeboy speaks at his special Couples-only Valentine event ️ pic.twitter.com/MO95KN7WxX
Afrobeats, Through The Years
The global rise of Afrobeats traces its lineage to the ‘Afrobeat’ movement pioneered by Fela Kuti, whose politically charged fusion of jazz and highlife laid the cultural foundation for today’s modern pop sound.
Over the years, the genre has evolved into a global export championed by acts such as D’banj, Timaya, Wizkid, Davido and Tiwa Savage.
READ ALSO: If Davido, Wizkid, Others Collaborated More, Afrobeats Would Be Bigger Today — Asa Asika
A newer generation, including Tems, Burna Boy, Rema, Asake and Ayra Starr has further expanded its reach under the “Afrobeats to the World” movement, earning international recognition and major award wins.
Despite its growth, debates persist over whether Afrobeats commands the same global dominance as genres such as pop, rap or Latin music, as well as concerns about limited collaborations among leading Nigerian stars.
At the start of the 2020s, Afrobeats saw significant experimentation, with many artistes blending the sound with South Africa’s amapiano as well as American hip-hop and R&B.
For example, stars like Davido and Wizkid have sampled the amapiano genre on some of their hit tracks.
While the fusion helped expand the genre’s global reach, some critics argued that excessive cross-genre influences diluted its original identity.
By 2024, however, several Nigerian artistes began steering back towards a more traditional Afrobeats sound, reducing the heavy amapiano influence that had dominated previous releases.
Grammys, African Sounds
The global conversation around African music began more when the Recording Academy introduced the ‘Best African Music Performance’ category to recognise the influence and sound.
It was further amplified at the 2026 Grammy Awards, where South African pop star Tyla won the Best African Music Performance prize with her song Push 2 Start.
The track, taken from her self-titled debut album Tyla, blends amapiano with pop, Afrobeats and R&B influences and has gained traction globally through streaming platforms and social media. Tems, however, won the 2025 edition.
Meanwhile, this year’s category saw top Nigerian acts dominate with several hits sound. Stars like Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Ayra Starr and Omah Lay were listed on the category.
The ceremony also honoured Fela Kuti posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award, which was widely celebrated.
In November 2025, veteran Nigerian rapper Ruggedman suggested the “Afrobeats” label itself could eventually fade, even as he acknowledged the strong global position of Nigerian music.
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