Performance

Afrobeats

0 upcoming performances in New York

Afrobeats refers to a loose, contemporary pop ecosystem that took shape across Nigeria, Ghana, and the diaspora in the 2000s, built from older regional lineages and club-ready production. In New York City it has moved quickly from immigrant-party circulation to major stages, including programs at institutions like Jazz at Lincoln Center. This event frames those rhythms through a jazz big-band lens, with musicians such as Ulysses Owens Jr. and Michael Olatuja translating song forms into horn writing and improvisation. One clear takeaway is how easily the language of swing absorbs new Atlantic accents without losing its own history.