In the last ten years, the number of women in Afrobeat has been slowly but steadily increasing. We have seen young and extremely talented women take the industry by storm, inspiring young girls around the continent. In Nigeria, artists like Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Simi, Niniola, Waje, to name a few, broke the barriers and gender limitations they faced in the industry. They began their careers in a time when the number of female artists was astonishingly low, ignored the status quo and pushed till they too became household names, topping charts and headlining shows all around the country and across the continent. They paved the way for the new faces we see.
In recent times, the emergence of younger female artists has shown just how much the industry has grown. These women showcased their talents, made sure their voices and their hard works were appreciated and established a large and extremely loyal fanbase in the process. A few of them are known pioneers of the new Alté movement that has taken both the music and fashion industry by storm.
Artists like Tems and Lady Donli, who are known for their distinct vocals and unconventional musical prowess, have not so subtly pushed the boundaries surrounding Afrobeat. Donli’s music is a blend of Afro-Fusion with a more traditional African sound, and Tems’ is a soft blend between RnB, Afrobeat and what she termed ‘Spiritual music’.
Teni Makanaki and Amaarae are two artists who have also refused to conform to what the industry and people have deemed to be conventional, creating music that speaks to the younger generation and encourages authenticity among young creatives.
Other young women such as Falana, SOMADINA, Tomi Owo and lots more are not just inspirations to the young girls of this generation, but they are also legends in the making.
In light of the 2021 International Women’s Day, we applaud each woman from each generation for their creative spirits and resilient hearts. With every record release and every successful performance, they have continually shown the music industry that there are no limitations and no barriers that can or will hold them back.
