Senegalese-American singer Akon has opened up about his role in the early development of Afrobeats.
He said his collaborations with Nigerian artists and music executives during the late 2000s and early 2010s laid the foundation for what has become the global Afrobeats phenomenon.
The Konvict Muzik founder recalled working with the likes of Wizkid, Banky W, P-Square, D’banj, and others, years before the “Afrobeats to the World” wave gained momentum.
Speaking in a recent interview with Sherri, Akon said, “2008 was my last official album, the ‘Freedom’ album. Then I was producing the music for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. From there, I went to Nigeria. What we created in Nigeria is what you see and hear today as Afrobeats.
“Wizkid was the first Nigerian artist we signed back in 2008. We worked with him and Banky W in Nigeria. From there, we started developing artists like PSquare, D’banj, and others.”
On being one of the first African pop stars to break into the global mainstream, Akon added, “It’s the role God gave me. I feel like I’m a beacon for someone else’s success. I don’t know who it’ll be, but everything we’ve touched has turned out really successful, and I’m grateful for that.”
