Afrobeat
noun
Af·ro·beat
ˈa-frō-ˌbēt 
: urban popular music originating in Nigeria in the late 1960s that emphasizes percussion rhythms and features elements of jazz and funk and lyrics which are often strongly political
Examples of Afrobeat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Founded by Jonathan Blanchard, JB’s Record Lounge offers a deep collection of jazz, soul, Afrobeat, and rare finds—plus turntables and gear for budding collectors.
—
Okla Jones, Essence, 17 June 2025
Femi’s narration serves as a sort of conduit between Wizkid and Fela, the seventies icon who blended jazz, funk, and traditional Yoruba music into Afrobeat, without an ‘S,’ like the modern Nigerian pop music Wizkid makes.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2025
People of all backgrounds are vibing to hip-hop and Afrobeats playing over two portable speakers and socializing over beer and snacks from the food stand.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Just a dance album would be really interesting for me—all types of dance—even Afrobeat or house or like all the subgenres under dance.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Afrobeat
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Okla Jones, Essence, 17 June 2025
Femi’s narration serves as a sort of conduit between Wizkid and Fela, the seventies icon who blended jazz, funk, and traditional Yoruba music into Afrobeat, without an ‘S,’ like the modern Nigerian pop music Wizkid makes.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2025
People of all backgrounds are vibing to hip-hop and Afrobeats playing over two portable speakers and socializing over beer and snacks from the food stand.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Just a dance album would be really interesting for me—all types of dance—even Afrobeat or house or like all the subgenres under dance.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Afrobeat
Cite this Entry
“Afrobeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afrobeat. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share