Steemit Engagement Challenge S3-W2 | All About My Local Music: @janeo42

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Introduction

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Music is a form of art that permeates human society in every place, in one way or the other.

The music we listen to (modern music) is heard in a profusion of styles that is bewildering, with some being contemporary and others based on past eras.

Music is an art that is protean as it easy lends itself to an alliance with words–songs, and with physical movement–dance. Historically, music has played an important part to rituals and drama and has been seen to have the capacity to reflect and influence human nature.

All About My Local Music

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The music that is played in Nigeria includes different kinds of folks and popular music. The folk music are of different types as a result of a multitude of ethnic groups in the country, with each having their own instruments, techniques, and songs.

Internationally recognized genres are Indigenous, Fuji, Apala, Afrobeats, Igbo highlife, Jùjú, to mention a few.

The indigenous music is mostly functional; that is, it's performance is to mark something significant like a wedding or a funeral.

Afrobeats is the most common genre of music, as it is played and listened to a lot. It can also be called Afro-fusion or Afro-pop.

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Together, these names are given as a term to describe popular music from West Africa and the Diaspora. It is less of a style in some respects and more of a way of describing the fusion of sounds that flows out of Nigeria and Ghana. The production of Afrobeats is primarily done in Lagos, Accra, and London.

Afrobeats–which has an 's'– is usually conflated with and referred to Afrobeat–that doesn't have an 's'. But the two of them have distinct sounds, making them not the same. Afrobeats was pioneered between 2000 & 2010. Although, it has some influence from Afrobeat, it is actually a diverse fusion of various different genres like hip hop, dancehall, soca, highlife, British house music, Naija beats, etc.

The term Afrobeats is an overarching one that tends to describe contemporary West African pop music. The term was used as a way of packing the various sounds into a label that can be easily accessible.

You can mostly identify it by it's signature driving drum beats rhythm, be it electronic or instrumental. The beat in Afrobeats music is acts as the major character of the song, not just serving as the base for melody, sometimes having an Importance that is equal to or of greater than the lyrics as it takes the lead role.

Nigeria has a population that consists of diverse ethnic groups. Each of these ethnic groups have their traditional songs they are so accustomed to. Afrobeats has brought about an interaction between these ethnic groups, and it has also brought a desire by listeners to hear and experience something new.

It has an upbeat vibe, something that is similar to Soca music, with similar cadence as well, but with a different language.

Afrobeats draws people in because it speaks to humanity in such ways that cannot be seen in other genres. The sound is very flexible, non repetitive, and energetic. It is one that feels old and new at the same time.

It is something that changes the mood of Nigerians as it gives a joyous and happy state. This is much needed especially at a time such as our where the situation of things are at an all time low.

There are slight similarities between Afrobeats and Western music. The similarities are based on composition of songs. Each song has a beat, hook, and chorus. Depending on the styling of the song, the music follows this pattern.

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Because of this fact, there has been numerous collaborations between artists from Nigeria and Western music artist. A good example is the song titled Brown skin girl by Beyonce ft Wizkid. There are lots of collaborations between these set of artists and more are to come in the future.

Conclusion

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Afrobeats is the most popular form of music that is played In my country. However, there are other very prominent form of music that is played too.

Afrobeats has brought about a new wave of music that has swept almost all forms of music in Nigeria. And as recently as last year a Nigerian artist won a Grammy Award for best album in the global music category.

Within the country, a lot of people listen to afrobeats as it is being played everyday. You hear it on your radios and see it on the television everyday.

I use this opportunity to invite @olabillions, @samuel20, and @benson6.