In the recent controversy from Tyla’s acceptance speech at the MTV VMAs, the singer received an award for the Afrobeats category and she spoke about the importance of knowing the difference between African regional genres. Though some fans were bewildered with her statement, Tyla used a relevant platform to discuss her position in the music industry. For African music artists thrusting into the American market of music, it is inspiring for African artists to define their musical genres using their cultural language and phrases that are relevant to their particular cultures.

    African music genres vary from country and region due to the vastness of the continent. Amapiano (South Africa) and Afrobeats (Nigeria) are two of the dominating the international DJ scenes which play a large role in the impact of African music in the dance clubs or nightlife venues. Music and dance will always be a connecting factor amongst diaspora cultures, however the history of African music hasn’t reached the mainstream networks that acknowledge the local traditional music usually from ceremonial or religious expressions.

    During an interview with Nakira G. of ‘Griot of the Diaspora’ podcast on YouTube, international Ghanaian DJ, TMSKDJ highlighted African music genres including Highlife and Hiplife, two of Ghana’s highly popular forms of music. Afrobeats is central to Nigeria but Ghanaian artists tend to lean towards Afrobeats, Hiplife, Dancehall and Reggae music using native Ghanaian languages. The massive variety of linguistic flare that African artists add to the performance of music is undeniable but it will become a major editorial opportunity for the future of the African music industry.

    As music from the African continent continues to explode into international markets and providing expansive careers for hundreds of artists from every level of success, it’s exciting to see artists like Burna Boy, Tyla, Tema, Ayra Star, Rema, and many others who utilize their platforms to speak on their position in music by sharing historical facts on the music genres they are expressing. Unlike other genres, African music is not stagnant nor limited in the boundaries it can reach. With good business and honest work, regional music can build strong enough industries that can sustain their entertainment economies for decades to come.