| Afrobeats The Backstory | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Developed by | R70 |
| Directed by | Ayo Shonaiya |
| Music by | Sess, Jospo, Babz |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom Nigeria |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Ayo Shonaiya |
| Production company | R70 Media Generations |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | 29 June 2022 |
Afrobeats: The Backstory is a documentary series that delves into the rise and global influence of Afrobeats, a genre of music that originated in Nigeria. Directed by Nigerian filmmaker Ayo Shonaiya, the series premiered on Netflix on 29 June 2022, offering an in-depth look at the cultural, political, and social landscape that shaped the Afrobeats sound, as well as its growth. [1]
The series traces the evolution of Afrobeats from its roots in the early 2000s to its global explosion in the 2010s and beyond. The documentary examines how Nigerian pioneers like Fela Kuti laid the groundwork for the contemporary Afrobeats movement, combining traditional African rhythms with funk, jazz, and highlife. Modern Afrobeats, popularized by artists such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido, has become a genre that fuses African rhythms with hip-hop, dancehall, and R&B.
Ayo Shonaiya is the director, known for his work as a lawyer, music executive, and producer. Shonaiya brings a unique insider perspective to the series, having been involved in the Afrobeats movement for years. His documentary features a blend of personal interviews, archival footage, and performances that document the journey of Afrobeats as a genre.
The documentary was produced over several years, and it includes interviews with key figures in the music industry, both in Nigeria and globally. The series also sheds light on the role of record labels, promoters, and the African diaspora in pushing the genre beyond the continent. [2]
Episode 1:OG Before IG & The 3 Boy Bands - Afrobeats genre was first introduced in the 1990s with musicians from Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom. This episode features DJ Jimmy Jatt, Dayo 'D1' Adeneye, Tony Tetuila, 2face and Sound Sultan.
Episode 2:1999 & The 5 Beat Pattern - The importance of the year 1999. The first signs of the changing sound and the music production software, "Hip-Life" in Ghana and the 5 Beat Pattern (Clavé), featuring the producers of the new sound such as Eldee of the Trybesmen and the first female Nigerian rapper Weird MC.
Episode 3:The UK Scene & D'banj and Don Jazzy - How the genre developed in the UK and the players that not only shaped the sound, but brought it to the people, from the music program Intro Live with DJ Abass on BEN TV (Sky UK) to radio shows on BBC 1Xtra to Capital Xtra. The birth of a superstar and the super producer. How D'banj and Don Jazzy happened... and Kanye West.
Episode 4:Music Videos & Music Stations - Music Videos from Nigeria and Ghana and the impact they had on young artistes, the vixens and the video directors that made them, to the music stations. From Music Africa to Channel O, MTV Base, Trace TV and HipTV, and how they shaped the culture, featuring DJ Tee, Clarence Peters and TG Omori.
Episode 5:American Dream & Local Rappers - American Dream to Nigerian Dream, and the Local Rappers who went from American accents to local dialect, and changed the game globally. Featuring Banky W and Sauce Kid, Olamide, Reminisce and Ill Bliss.
Episode 6:The Record Labels & The Queens - The record label stories, good and bad, as big money started coming into Afrobeats. The legal wrangles, royalties, the digital revolution, plus how different it is for females in the game. Featuring Sasha P, Niyola, Chidinma, Simi and Tiwa Savage.
Episode 7:DJs, Producers & Dancehall Music - The beat makers and the hit players. From DJ Jimmy Jatt to Spinall in Nigeria, and DJ Edu from Kenya to DJ Abrantee in the UK. How the spread of the music touched the world at the same time. Plus Dancehall music as the "cousin" of Afrobeats, from Daddy Showkey to Stonebwoy to Shank to Burna Boy.
Episode 8:The New New Sound & The Fusion of African Music - Afro-House, Afro-Fusion and the new sound already coming out of Afrobeats, featuring Niniola, producer Sarz, Adekunle Gold, Joe Boy and Oxlade. New artistes already fusing African music with the many genres across the globe to keep expanding the genre for the future.
Episode 9:Wizkid & Davido and Yoruba Language in Afrobeats - The global explosion of Afrobeats with Wizkid and Davido, and how these 2 ambassadors raised the bar. The importance of Yoruba lyrics and culture in Afrobeats from its early foundations in Fuji music, to the current "street" music in Nigeria.
Episode 10:The Big Concerts - The history of how big concerts developed the music industry in Nigeria and how African artistes now fill big arenas around the world. From Silverbird concerts in the 80s to Lekki Sunsplash to Afronation to Felabration to O2 Arena in London.
Episode 11:Afrobeat & Afrobeats, History & Present - History recap of the naming of the genre Afrobeat with Fela Kuti and Afrobeats in the UK. Exclusive interview with legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen and the debate about who added the S to Afrobeats.
Episode 12:Afrobeats to the World - Afrobeats is now global, Burna Boy winning a Grammy, Beyonce and the Lion King album and Justin Bieber collaborating on a song with Wizkid and Tems. What does the future hold for the genre that has taken over the World.
The first two episodes of "Afrobeats: The Backstory" was premiered on April 2, 2021, at the FilmHouse IMAX Cinema in Lekki Lagos in Nigeria, with a selection of the artistes and executives featured in the documentary in attendance. [3]
The 12-episode documentary premiered worldwide on the streaming platform Netflix on June 29, 2022. [4] "Afrobeats: The Backstory" has been deemed a "Fastest-rising cultural phenomenon of the 2020s, therefore it made all sense for the streaming company to acquire Ayo Shonaiya’s work and push it with the resolve they’ve shown so far," (Animashaun, 2022). [5] This series has also been noted for highlighting the genre's cultural significance by promoting African identity and heritage on a global scale. [6]
Afrobeats: The Backstory is seen as a landmark documentary that captures a pivotal moment in the history of African music. It is a celebration of Afrobeats' journey from a local sound to a global movement, showcasing the artists, producers, and industry players who have contributed to its success. The series entertains and educates viewers on the cultural and economic impact of Afrobeats. [7]
On the 25th of June 2024, Nile Entertainment Group announced their company launch [8] and newly acquired productions for distribution including the Season 2 of Afrobeats The Backstory. [9]
Ayo Shonaiya is a filmmaker and lawyer, he was also a music talent agent who has managed many of Nigeria's artists. The list include Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, pop star D'banj, music producer Don Jazzy and rapper Eldee the Don. He has also represented former beauty queen and rapper Muna and global music star Akon. He is the founder of entertainment and media management company The RMG Company in the UK and Nigeria, and Managing Partner at the Lagos-based law firm Shonaiya & Co.
The Nigerian Entertainment Awards were established in New York City in January 2006. The awards recognize the contributions of African entertainers with a special focus on Nigerians.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobeats, afropop, R&B, afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".
The Headies is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to viewers across Nigeria. The first and second editions of The Headies were held at the Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos State. Between 2010 and 2012, the awards were held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. Several media personalities in Nigeria have hosted the annual ceremony, including Darey Art Alade, D'banj, Dakore Egbuson, Banky W., Rita Dominic, M.I, Tiwa Savage and Dr SID.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu , known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, performer and record producer. He gained recognition in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and its parent company Warner Music Group. His third studio album Outside, which also serves as his major label debut, was released in 2018.
The 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards took place on 31 August 2014, at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The eligibility period was from March 2013 to March 2014. In April 2014, the NEA reviewing committee began collecting submissions for the 2014 edition. The deadline for submission was April 30, 2014, and the nominations were announced on May 29, 2014. Tiwa Savage and Davido received the most nominations with 5 each. Don Jazzy, Flavour N'abania and Wizkid all got four nominations each, while Olamide, Patoranking, Chidinma and Oritse Femi followed closely with three nominations.
The Gidi Culture Festival is an annual one-day music and arts festival that takes place in Lagos, Nigeria. Co-founded by Chinedu Okeke and Oriteme Banigo, it was created in response to a demand from the local youth culture for live, affordable, and accessible entertainment in Africa. The festival provides a venue for live bands, DJs, and musical acts to perform. It also features outdoor activities, local vendors, and artisans. The main show features a line-up of African acts from numerous countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Congo, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. The goal of the festival is to encourage the development of African talent and promote artists both within the continent and into overseas markets.
Oluseye Desmond Sodamola, professionally known as Spinall, is a Nigerian disc jockey, record producer, and songwriter. He has released six studio albums and collaborated with artists that have included Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Joeboy among others. He has won numerous awards for his work, including All Africa Music Awards and The Beatz Awards. He is also the first Nigerian disc jockey to play at festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, and Glastonbury.
Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is the pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and patterns. Mr Eazi relocated to Kumasi in 2008 and enrolled at KNUST, where he began booking artists to perform at college parties. He showed interest in music after recording a guest verse on "My Life", a song that gained traction and became a popular record at KNUST. Mr Eazi released his debut mixtape About to Blow in 2013. He gained an international audience following the release of the Efya-assisted single "Skin Tight". His second mixtape, titled Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 – Accra to Lagos, was released in 2017.
Sesan Ogunro is a Nigerian music video director based in the United Kingdom, often credited for his work as Sesan. He has directed music videos for Afrobeats genre artists such as D'Banj, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage and Davido. He is the CEO of Film Factory Nigeria, a video production company in Lagos; and Film Factory South Africa, in Johannesburg.
Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing, is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing out of Nigeria and Ghana. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Larry Ndianefo, professionally known as Larry Gaaga, is a Nigerian songwriter, recording artist, music producer, and record label executive. He gained fame with the success of ‘Gaaga Shuffle’, a song he performed alongside Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia.
Udoma Peter Kelvin Amba popularly known by his trademark It's Kel-P Vibes is a Nigerian record producer, singer and songwriter. He is the founder and the CEO of Bully Entertainment, and is currently signed to Universal Music Publishing France, Universal Music France, and Virgin Music France, with a management deal with Jones Worldwide. He was formerly signed to Aristokrat from 2019 to 2023, and is best known for exclusively producing and co-writing the Grammy nominated world album African Giant in 2019.
Aremu Olaiwola Qudus is a Nigerian music video director. He has worked with artists of several musical genres including Wizkid, Skepta, Davido, Burna Boy and many others, winning 2020 The Headies Award for best music video of the year.
Peace Emmanuel Aderogba Oredope, professionally known as P.Priime , is a Nigerian record producer, DJ, music director, mixing engineer and songwriter.
Chukwuka Chukwuma Ekweani, better known by his stage name Ckay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Boyfriend Music, Warner Music Africa and Atlantic Records. He was formerly signed to Chocolate City, a member of Warner Music Group independent label services ADA. His international hit single "Love Nwantiti", also known as "Love Nwantiti ", was released in 2019 by Chocolate City.
Afro Nation is an annual three-day music festival founded in 2019 by Live Nation, SLE - Sociedade Lusa de Espectáculos and Event Horizon to bring together the best African artistes in Afrobeats, Hip hop, RnB, Dancehall, Gqom, Amapiano, Afroswing and more. The festival was nominated in the Best Overseas Festival category at the 2019 UK Festival Awards.
Lekan Osifeso Jnr., popularly known as Lojay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer. He peaked at number 8 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart with his song "Monalisa", which features Chris Brown and Sarz. He received a nomination for the Headies Award for Next Rated artiste at the 2022 Headies Award.
Paul Okoye, also known as Paulo Okoye or Paul O, is a Nigerian event promoter, talent manager, record exec, philanthropist and business man.