When it comes to African music genres, what would you guess were the most searched this year? While Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro-House, and Hip Hop typically dominate conversations, our Library data tells a different story.

Here are the top 10 most-searched genres of 2024:

Afrobeat was created in 1963 by the late Nigerian music star Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. This genre is primarily rooted in Highlife and synthesized with African American musical forms like funk (particularly that of James Brown) and Jazz.

Juju is a dance music that combines Yoruba percussion with Funk and Reggae and performed in the Yoruba dialect. It is distinguished by the singing of religious and cultural lyrics and the use of percussion instruments, such as the talking drum.

Apala is a socio-religious music style rooted in Yoruba philosophy and poetry. It is a blend of Islamic Were music vocal style with traditional Yoruba musical elements and instruments like the Agidigbo (lamellophone), gaangan (talking drum), sekere (gourd rattle), Akuba (shaped like the conga drum but bigger) and Agogo (bell).

Highlife is a soft and danceable music genre created in Ghana. This genre derives its form from Akan traditional music. The term "highlife" was coined in the mid-1920s by low-income people who couldn't afford to enter the fancy clubs where the music was played but could hear it from outside. They referred to it as "high life" because it was associated with the luxurious lifestyle of the wealthy.

Fuji is a prominent Nigerian traditional music form that mixes elements of Islamic and Yoruba music. is distinguished by its high-energy and cheery vibe and its use of intricate rhythms and melodic themes.

Soukous is a popular dance music from Central and East Africa. It is characterized by a strong, syncopated rhythm guitar, polyrhythmic percussion, and a smooth, sensual feel. Soukous typically features electric guitar improvisation, lively vocal harmonies, and intricate horn sections.

Marabi is a fusion of traditional African rhythms and melodies with American Jazz and ragtime music. It typically features a piano as the lead instrument, accompanied by percussion instruments such as drums, shakers, and a bass guitar.

Afrobeats is known for the melodic hooks that blend pop, hip-hop, and dancehall with traditional African music. This music style features diverse singing styles, ranging from mellow and soulful to upbeat and rhythmic. Artists can express themselves in English and regional African languages.

Benga is a Kenyan music genre characterized by intricate, bouncy finger-picking guitar techniques and a fast-paced rhythmic beat. The genre defined the sound of Kenya from the 1960s to the 1980s. It originated in Western Kenya through the experimentation with traditional Luo songs, using the guitar instead of traditional instruments like the Nyatiti and Orutu.

Congolese Rumba is a popular music genre developed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo around the mid-twentieth century. Rumba has its roots in the traditional Kikongo dance called "nkumba," which means "waist." This music genre is distinguished by the use of acoustic instruments such as guitars, percussion instruments such as drums, maracas, and shakers, and occasionally horns and accordions.

It has truly been an amazing year of learning about African music. Wishing you a rewarding end-of-year!

Here are the top 10 most-searched genres of 2024 by the African Music Library Community.

Most-Sought African Music Genres of 2024

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