The global rise of African Music: Afrobeats and Amapiano at the forefront

This short report is extracted from a recently published article "beats to business: African creative industries and the re-emergence of Commonwealth trade relations" co-authored with two outstanding colleagues at the prestigious University of Pretoria's Gordon Institute of Business Science, Johannesburg, South Africa. Excerpted abstract: Afrobeats --- with its origins in Nigeria and Ghana -- thrives on storytelling and ability, creating a bridge between African traditions and modern urban life. Its broad sonic palette, from high-energy anthems to mellow ballads, has given the world a taste of Africa’s dynamic spirit. Yet, as the genre continues to expand its influence, its interactions with other styles, such as South Africa’s Amapiano --- distinguished by its log drum, mid-tempo beat ranging from 110–115 BPM, jazzy piano riffs, and heavy use of syncopated percussion that offers a sonic experience that feels simultaneously grounding and otherworldly -- are creating even more compelling narratives. This cultural alchemy showcases a vibrant dialogue between South Africa and West Africa, blending their sonic identities into a richer African musical expression. Madichie, N. O., Mathibe, M. & Dangazele, N. (2026) From beats to business: African creative industries and the re-emergence of Commonwealth trade relations, The Round Table, 115(1), 17-27, DOI: 10.1080/00358533.2025.2588570 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00358533.2025.2588570 Journal citation metrics 1.5 (2024) CiteScore (Scopus) Q2 CiteScore Best Quartile 0.699 (2024) SNIP 0.250 (2024) SJR https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ctrt20/about-this-journal#journal-metrics