“Lyricostution”: The Roles of Identity Mirroring Afrobeats Lyrics and Visuals

« Lyricostution » : les rôles de la mise en miroir identitaire dans les paroles et les visuels de l’Afrobeats

Authors

  • Kehinde ADEDAYO Adeyemi Federal University of Education | Nigeria

Keywords:

Afrobeats, African identity, counter-narrative, lyrical analysis, cultural reclamation

Abstract

Since the early 2000s, Afrobeats has emerged as a pivotal platform for cultural expression and identity reclamation within contemporary African music. This study explores how Afrobeats contributes to postcolonial discourse through lyrical introspection and commentary aimed at restoring African dignity and traditional values. By analysing lyrics of eight selected Afrobeats songs released between 2008 and 2022, the research identifies recurring patterns that reflect artistes’ deliberate personalisation of collective struggles and their use of tone and performance to evoke shared historical and socio-cultural experiences

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Published

2026-01-22

How to Cite

ADEDAYO, K. (2026). “Lyricostution”: The Roles of Identity Mirroring Afrobeats Lyrics and Visuals: « Lyricostution » : les rôles de la mise en miroir identitaire dans les paroles et les visuels de l’Afrobeats. The Algerian Journal of Letters, 9(2), 251–269. Retrieved from https://journals.univ-temouchent.edu.dz/index.php/RAL/article/view/565

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2025): “Specialized translation and intercultural mediation: how do they fit together in the age of artificial intelligence?”

Section

Articles

License

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