Afrobeats has gone from being a Nigerian cultural export to becoming one of the most recognisable sounds in global music.
Nigerian artists now headline international festivals, collaborate with some of the world’s biggest musicians and attract audiences far beyond Africa.
But according to Davido, there is another side to the story.
The genre may be getting bigger internationally while Nigerian artists themselves are not necessarily becoming more united.
Afrobeats has crossed the border
The global expansion of Afrobeats has been remarkable.
Artists such as Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy and many others helped establish Nigerian music as a serious global force.
Competition comes with success
Artists compete for streams, awards, collaborations, festival slots, endorsements and international attention.
The same industry that creates opportunities can also create rivalries.
The industry is bigger than the artists
Afrobeats is no longer simply about individual musicians. It now involves producers, managers, publishers, promoters, streaming platforms, record labels, event companies, fashion brands and technology companies.
A stronger industry could mean more opportunities across all those layers.
The global opportunity
The world is listening to Nigerian music. That creates an opportunity much larger than individual hits.
If the industry can convert global attention into stronger companies, catalogues, publishing businesses, festivals and international distribution networks, Afrobeats could become an even larger economic force.
The sound has travelled. Now the industry has to decide how much of the value created by that sound stays with the people who built it.
