Nigerian music star Davido has shared his thoughts on the origins of the term Afrobeats, stating that the genre’s name was coined by the British media following the global success of D’banj’s 2012 hit Oliver Twist.
Speaking in a recent interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, Davido explained that the term Afrobeats was created in the UK as a catch-all label for the diverse range of music emerging from West Africa.
“The word ‘Afrobeats’—the UK gave us that name when D’banj had Oliver Twist. That was like the biggest song in the country at the time, so they had to put a name on the genre,” Davido said.
He also clarified the distinction between Afrobeats and Afrobeat, the latter being the genre pioneered by Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti. “Afrobeat is really Fela’s genre,” Davido emphasized, acknowledging the deep-rooted political and instrumental style that defines Fela’s legacy.
Davido’s comments highlight the ongoing conversation around the global branding of African music and the importance of understanding its cultural evolution.
