Afrobeat

noun

Af·​ro·​beat ˈa-frō-ˌbēt How to pronounce Afrobeat (audio)
: urban popular music originating in Nigeria in the late 1960s that emphasizes percussion rhythms and features elements of jazz and funk and lyrics which are often strongly political

Examples of Afrobeat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The ceremony honors homegrown and international artists from diverse scenes including hip-hop, R&B, grime, jazz, and Afrobeats. Thomas Smith, Billboard, 18 Feb. 2025 Even some of the more contemporary Afrobeat artists drop limited prints of their records on vinyl as well. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025 Featuring James Brown’s dynamism, the extraterrestrial funk of George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, transformed girl group Labelle, and Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat, the story also traces funk’s influences on both new wave and hip-hop. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025 Dance to the rhythms of Afrobeat, Soca, Reggae, Afro-house and more, with beats by DJ Steel Wheel. Mari Pressley, Charlotte Observer, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Afrobeat

Word History

Etymology

afro- + beat entry 2

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Afrobeat was in 1969

Cite this Entry

“Afrobeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afrobeat. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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