Afrobeat
noun
Af·ro·beat
ˈa-frō-ˌbēt 
: 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
Reggaeton, Afrobeats, and K-pop now reach English-speaking audiences to an extent that was unthinkable when traditional gatekeepers—major labels, drive-time DJs, Rolling Stone—held more sway.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Davido won artist of the year and digital artist of the year at The Headies, which recognizes African contemporary music and Afrobeats.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2025
For many years, the term Afrobeats, referring to a West African pop style that integrates dancehall, rap, and R. & B. with traditional African rhythms, was controversial, rejected by some artists for being overly broad.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Fela-chella Flanked by a visual with the faces of Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and Marcus Garvey, Seun Kuti and his band, Egypt 80, tore through a blistering Afrobeat setlist.
—Emma Madden, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Afrobeat
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.
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Davido won artist of the year and digital artist of the year at The Headies, which recognizes African contemporary music and Afrobeats.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2025
For many years, the term Afrobeats, referring to a West African pop style that integrates dancehall, rap, and R. & B. with traditional African rhythms, was controversial, rejected by some artists for being overly broad.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Fela-chella Flanked by a visual with the faces of Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and Marcus Garvey, Seun Kuti and his band, Egypt 80, tore through a blistering Afrobeat setlist.
—Emma Madden, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Afrobeat
Cite this Entry
“Afrobeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afrobeat. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share