By Cynthia Johnson
Street music has over the years, been a vital part of Afrobeats. This type of music has always got people longing for more. How about digging into the roots of Afrobeats in Nigeria today?
We would definitely find timeless hits that have stood the test of time and continue to be enjoyed by fans today. These songs remain iconic to us.
QUEST TIMES brings you five timeless songs that shaped Afrobeats:
1. Stereoman – Ekwe (2006)
Stereoman’s “Ekwe” is a chest-thumping record driven by the street language of the Southern part of Nigeria. It enjoyed massive popularity even in the mainstream and has been reimagined by Nigerian celebrated producer Masterkraft over a decade after its release.
2. Dando Driver – Danfo Driver (2003)
No act in the history of Afrobeats has effortlessly captured the spirit of the Street like the duo Mad Melon and Mountain Black. Their Konto (Nigerian blend of Dancehall and indigenous Highlife music) record “Danfo Driver” is an anthem of their experiences in the Ghetto as commercial bus drivers. The song swept Nigeria like wildfire and took them from obscurity in the inner city of Lagos to nationwide fame.
3. Timaya – Dem Mama (2007)
Timaya’s “Dem Mama” is a conscious single that documents the Odi massacre of 1999. This song enjoyed massive success and took Timaya from a local star in Port Harcourt to a nationwide sensation.
4. Terry G – Free Madness (2008)
Terry G in the late 2000s, held Nigerians spellbound with his electrifying music that combined Konto, White Garment gospel music, and Hip Hop. His breakout single “Free Madness” has his eccentricity and unconventional nature on full display as he made a party-starting record that is essentially a freestyle that combines street slang.
5. African China – Mr President (2006)
African China’s “Mr President” is a song that addresses the societal injustice that pervaded Afrobeats at the time. It is a hit single that resonated with listeners and is still being used to capture the poor leadership and social injustice that motivated its release almost two decades after its release.
Conclusively, street music is a vibrant and diverse genre that continues to evolve and produce new and exciting artists.