AFROBEATS

This study examines Afrobeats as tools for political and social resistance in Nigeria, with a focus on how artistes employ music to influence and critique the political and social realities of the nation. The research reveals that Afrobeats has evolved beyond entertainment into a powerful instrument for social awareness, political activism, and resistance against oppression, corruption, and injustice. The study adopts New Historicism Theory as its theoretical framework, which states that understanding a literary or artistic work requires knowledge of the historical context that shapes it. This approach enables an exploration of how Afrobeats reflects and responds to Nigeria’s political and social decadence. Ten songs were analyzed, including Eedris Abdulkareem’s “Jaga Jaga” and “Tell Your Papa”; Burna Boy’s “20.10.20”, “Another Story”, “Monsters You Made”, “Common Person”, and “Wetin Man Go Do”; Falz’s “This Is Nigeria” and “Johnny”; and Teni’s “Uyo Meyo.” I’m Findings show that these artistes use Afrobeats as a medium for advocacy, self-expression, and societal critique. Their songs confront issues such as bad governance, state violence, social inequality, unemployment, and moral decay while inspiring resilience and hope among listeners. The study concludes that Afrobeats functions as a voice for the people. It educates, unites, and awakens social consciousness; thereby placing the genre as a vital tool for political and social transformation in contemporary Nigerian society