Afrobeats is making waves globally with artists like Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, and more; selling out major venues across the world, and a good number, bagging Grammy nods and wins.
To tell the Afrobeats story to the world, The Journey of the Beats, a docu-series that details the journey of Nigerian and Black music through the years will premier on the 23rd of June 2022, on Showmax. The series goes behind the scenes to shed light on the movement that has taken the world by storm.
Journey of the Beats tells the story of Afrobeats, a distinctly African sound that unlocked a movement, from small independent labels and promoters in Lagos, to spread globally and produce billions of streams, hits, and fans. It is told through the lens of music historians and some of Nigeria’s biggest artists like 2Baba, Psquare, Onyeka Onwenu, Daddy Showkey, Flavour, and D’Banj. The documentary also explores how this generation of Nigerian artists found their confidence and identity through music and how Afrobeats went global. It further tells how the Nigerian youth culture and African music found their way into households around the world.
According to the show’s producer, Obi Asika: “The show came about from conversations with collaborators over the years and the need to document the journey of our music, to celebrate those who made it happen and share their stories. It’s incredible that people are going to watch this brilliant piece of work as it educates, empowers, and enables more people to engage the industry and see the breadth, reach, and power of our music. I am hopeful the impact is wider than the music industry as our music affects fashion, dance, lifestyle, movies, and entertainment as well.”
Showmax Head of Content, Candice Fangueiro, also added that: “The growth of Afrobeats cannot be overstated and we feel privileged as a platform to showcase and tell the story behind its evolution.”
The Journey of the Beats is a once-in-a-lifetime story told through the eyes of those who have led and continue to champion the movement.
The documentary will be available exclusively on Showmax from the 23rd of June, with new episodes dropping weekly.
