The Afro-pop landscape: A continuum fusion of trans border black dances, crystalised as contemporary cultural intangible African identity

Abstract

This article particularly examines how Afropop dance amalgamates by drawing on current popular dances from different African nations, constantly reinventing itself and subsuming other dances from black diasporan dancers from Europe and the USA. Contributions from within and without the African continent are constantly shaping the dance landscape across the world today, more so because of social media. In the last ten years Afropop has grown in leaps and bounds attracting the interest of several youths across the world. New dance moves as well as routines and dance challenges are constantly shaping the dance landscape. Dancers such as Dancegod Loyd, Ezuntey Flex, Incredible Zigi, Afrobeast, Endurance and Afronita, all from Ghana, continually influence the Afropop dance landscape and are invited across the world to undertake workshops. As a result, these young talents have developed career paths in dance and survive within the dance landscape whilst adorned with the dance practice everywhere they go as an African identity marker, a phenomenon which did not exist in the past. The word Afro was introduced into the African music and dance cultural scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Chief amongst the originators of the musical types were Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who created Afrobeat, Osibisa band who created Afrorock, Terry Bright Kweku Ofosu & Benedictus Mattson Ghanaba, who were involved with Afrojazz, etc., all together referred to as Afro Soul (Collins, 2018). In recent times, a new derivative of Afropop music and dance type also known as Afrobeats has evolved. Interestingly, the dance is as popular as the music making their combined representation a strong cultural marker. The article thrives on analysis of data collected in the form of interviews as well as examination of social media videos. The paper concludes that it is the totality of the activities of these young dancers, and by extension, the Afrobeats musicians, that has gradually shaped the Afropop dance landscape.