Afrobeats: Chart host celebrates genre's 'beautiful year'

If you needed proof that Afrobeats has found its way into oc pop culture cidentale, Eddie Ka di believes he has it.

"I saw Burna Boy having a conversation with Elton John recently," he says.

Once upon a time, it would have been surprising to see the star of the West African genre chatting with British pop royalty.

But Eddie , who hosted the first official Afrobeats Chart show in the past 12 months, isn't so shocked.

"This is a year that was really important to Afrobeats," he says. "The growth, the sound that has penetrated the world."

The genre - a mix of African and Western influences - has seen a massive increase in its popularity over the past few years, with songs steadily crossing the mainstream.

Burna Boy and Wizkid, two of Nigeria's biggest stars, have headlined some of the biggest music festivals in the world and both won the Grammys in 2021.

And some of the biggest names in music, like Beyonce and Drake, have also featured Afrobeats artists on their albums.

Image source, David Geli