Senegalese-American singer Akon has claimed he played a pivotal role in the creation and global ascent of Afrobeats, the genre now emblematic of West African music.
Speaking on The Sherri Shepherd Show, the “Smack That” artist reflected on his influence during the genre’s formative years.
He pointed to his early collaborations with top Nigerian artists in the late 2000s as instrumental in shaping the distinctive Afrobeats sound.
“I was in Africa, and time just flew by. My last official album came out in 2008 the Freedom album,” Akon said. “Then I produced music for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. After that, I went to Nigeria. What we created there became what is now known as Afrobeats.”
Akon revealed that Wizkid was the first Nigerian artist signed by his team in 2008, noting key partnerships with Banky W and contributions to the rise of acts like PSquare and D’banj.
Today, Afrobeats stands as one of Africa’s most influential cultural exports, with global stars like Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid headlining major international stages and festivals in 2023, continuing to push the genre’s worldwide reach.
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