Meet the musicians who say Afrobeats is coming for Ottawa - Action News
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OttawaCreator Network

Meet the musicians who say Afrobeats is coming for Ottawa

Musician and promoter KAR33M says Afrobeats is on the rise in Ottawa. For this creator network video, he sat down with some of his collaborators to ask what the genre means to them and why they want audiences to make space for the music of Nigeria, all over a generous helping of jollof rice.

Less Taylor, more Fela, KAR33M and collaborators share why the music rooted in Nigeria is finding a home here

Afrobeats in Ottawa: Why these artists say it's time to make space for new sounds

2 years ago
Duration 7:49
In this creator network video, called 'Road to Artist,' Abdul Muse, aka musician KAR33M, sits down with fellow artists Banggz, T. Chandy and Chyme for an intimate conversation about the genre and what it could be in Ottawa, all over a plate of Nigeria's national dish, jollof rice.

For CBC Ottawa's Creator Network project, 22-year-old musician and promoter Abdul Muse, a.k.a. KAR33M sat down with fellowAfrobeats artiststo talk about how they see the music of Nigeriaand why they want localaudiences to support this sound, all over a helping of jollof rice.

Check out other Creator Network Ottawa storieshere.


Ottawa may have a growing reputation for its hip-hop artists, but Abdul Muse, who goes by the stage name KAR33M, says it's time this city's Afrobeats community is recognized.

Muse, who also runs a label to promote Afro-diverse artists, says the sound is becoming more populararound the world and here in OttawatheAfrobeats and Afro-influenced music community is thriving even if that doesn't always translate to support from audiences.

"I feel like it needs a little bit more love. There are a lot of Afrobeatartists that are present, butthey also double abit because Ottawa vibes a bit more hip-hop," said Muse.

"In Ottawa it just needs a bit more love in terms of thefestivals ... and the people that come out to shows."

A man sings into a microphone in front of a dark stage.
After dabbling in R&B, Muse, aka KAR33M found his voice with Afrobeats, saying he wanted to sing about the reality of life in Africa. As he explains, 'going to that genre helped give me that courage in terms of saying what I want to say.' (Dreamland Studios)

Dishing about Afrobeats

Muse sat down recently with a group of Afrobeatsand Afrobeats-relatedmusicians, to talk about the genre and what it could be, all over a plate of Nigeria's national dish, jollof rice.

This creator network piece was directed by Muse'smanagerZainab, filmed by Quest (DavidLeclerc), edited by musician T.Chandy(ChandiraPerera), who was also on-screen alongside musician Chyme (EbubechukwuMichael Chime) andBanggz (Damilola Salaudeen).

For these artists, despite living far from Nigeria, their focus is telling that country's sometimes difficult stories even if their tracks often sound upbeat.

"[This music is]groovy, it's fun. But then youlisten and you're like, 'Oh, wait. This is what he said?This is true?OK, let me research this," explained Muse.

"Afrobeatis always talking about the African people. It's always talking about the reality that [African people] are currently facing."

A black and white photo of a man sitting cross-legged, holding a saxophone.
Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, and pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre Fela Kuti (1938-1997) in a hotel room, U.K., Jan. 6,1984. (Mike Moore/Getty Images)

Nigeria's music around the world

Muse, whocame to Canada from Nigeria when he was 13, saidtheAfrobeatssound wasn't his first love. But after dabbling in R&B and Afrosoul,he found his voice with the music of his home country.

Afrobeat traces its roots to Nigerian artist and activist Fela Kuti who popularized the blend of blues, jazz, funk and traditional Yoruba sounds in the 1970s.

A photo of a Black man performing in front of a choir of women.
WizKid performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in South Africa in 2018. He's one of a growing number of big names in the musical genre around the world. (Getty Images for Global Citizen )

His music lives on in his children,many of whom are also musicians, and has been gaining in popularity as the diaspora spread, with such big names as WizKid and Burna Boy said to be the first Afrobeats artist to sell out Madison Square Garden.

Muse explains that while the term Afrobeatis often used to describeKuti'smusic, it's more precise to use the term Afrobeats(with an s)to describe more recent music inspired by that sound.

Two Black men sit on an airport couch.
For Afrobeats artist Banggz, the genre is quite easily defined: 'It's Nigerian culture, is what you hear.' (Dreamland Studios)
An old photo of a young boy holding a guitar.
Abdul Muse grew up in a musical house in Nigeria before moving to Canada when he was 13. He says he found his own musical voice with Afrobeats and is hoping to foster that sound now in Ottawa. (Submitted by Abdul Muse)

Muse's frequent collaboratorDamilola Salaudeen, akaBanggz, echoes his frustration.

"Myself and a lot of my friends inthe Nigerian community, we make Afrobeatsand, if we do say soourselves it'spretty good," said the songwriter and producer.

"So it's just interesting to have to run around andchase people and reach out,instead of people just trying to do the work to appreciate what's already there."

Salaudeen grew up in Nigeria andcame to Ottawa in 2016 to study at Carleton. He saidthe lack of support is especially surprising given the growing number ofNigerians who live in this city.

"We do have a community that we're trying to build and that keeps increasing. It just puzzles me.It makes me ask, at what point is that going to change?"

A Black man holds up a fist while sitting in a wicker chair.
Muse's message to Ottawa promoters is to make space for Afrobeats artists. 'Whenever there's events happening, look around. There's so many Afro-influenced artists within the city. Make sure you're putting one at least on stage.... You can set the tone for what Ottawa sounds like.' (Dreamland Studios)

Open your ears

For Muse, it's time people in Ottawa started listening to something new.

"I want to walk around the city and hear Afrobeat," he said.

"Because usually you walk around andit's I love Ed Sheeran, but it's typically Ed Sheeran orTaylor Swift. Let's open up, let's listen to some new things. Let's adapt. Because Africa is taking over the world."

Muse's message to this city?

"Afrobeat exists and we're coming full force."

A close-up of a young man wearing sunglasses.
Abdul Muse, a.k.a. KAR33M, recently released his first LP and runs a label that supports emerging artists. He says he wants to help the community grow so all artists can thrive. (Dreamland Studios)

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

A banner of upturned fists, with the words 'Being Black in Canada'.
(CBC)