Afrobeats’ new groove
Africa’s growing diaspora is transforming the continent’s musical exports
IN 2023 ODUMODUBLVCK, a Nigerian rapper and singer, put out his first single. Called “Declan Rice” after an English footballer, the track saw a fresh surge in streams in April when Mr Rice scored two free kicks for Arsenal in a tense match against Real Madrid. On the record the artist, brought up in Abuja as Tochukwu Ojugwu, layers Pidgin English on a drill track to liken Mr Rice’s game-changing star power to his own. Since its release he has signed with Native Records, a Nigerian label based in Britain, and has put out a mixtape featuring an Italian rapper that has proved popular from Britain to Qatar.
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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Afrobeats’ new groove”
From the May 31st 2025 edition
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