You’d have to be living under a rock, in fact living in an alternate universe to not be aware of the stigmas and stereotypes that plague the everyday African. From fraud to cheating, dishonesty to deception and Yoruba demons to witch doctors. There’s nothing that can be said that hasn’t already been said.

What we are seeing now in these our modern and technologically advanced times is the accessibility to getting to know each other’s cultural secrets without even getting on a plane. What seemed to be clothed in darkness and tales of jungles, bushes and lions, evolved to poverty stricken blacks huddled around computers in cyber cafes sending out emails to innocent hard-working westerners, is now being uncovered and exposed in light of the rise of well to do, even rich and wealthy Africans showing the world that we are more than the negative labels we’ve been slapped on the face, handcuffed and beaten with.

In fact, today’s Afrobeats artists could be considered as the ambassadors for what it means to be an African. Take Burna Boy for instance who, in an interview is a straight shooting take it or leave it man of few words that is proudly Nigerian, proudly African and won’t take nonsense from anyone. But when you hear his music you can’t escape the rich influence of Fela Kuti that unites both young and old to share in the pride of being an African as he tells his stories of hustling, making money and the desire to enjoy life that every African can relate to. Burna Boy has risen to the top of the music scene with killer collaborations that can be heard on even the most mainstream radio station across the UK and US.

London, United Kingdom. 3rd November 2019. Burnaboy Performed at his African Giant Tour. Photographed by Michael Tubes

Or even Davido who even being the son of a rich man has propelled to superstardom through the combination of mega hits and hard work. Proving that no matter your status there is no substitute for hard work.

London, United Kingdom. January 27, 2019. Davido performs live on stage at The O2 Arena. Michael Tubes.

With all the negativity that has surrounded his music by critics who believe he should be more sensible with the messages he shares in his music, we can’t deny the power of authenticity that Olamide has that has drawn a mass community of fans around the world. Despite their ability to understand his indigenous rap style and lyrics they are still drawn to his transparency in telling the stories of the lives of the Nigerian youth and what they encounter in their quest to live their best lives. There’s something to be said about one who can remain so likeable and alluring even when sharing the the darker alleyways of the life. Olamide himself is still an ambassador for the modern young Nigerian for better and for worse.

London, United Kingdom. 24th October 2019. Starboy Fest at The 02 Arena. Photographed by Michael Tubes

Tiwa Savage has risen to the forefront of the Afrobeats scene and is blazing the torch for female artists. She sets the standard and has done so with grace and elegance. Even with her risqué choices, her efforts have also Nigeria on the map, so much so that she has crossed over to the international market with the potential to be as big as any Beyonce and Rihanna.

indigo at The O2, London, United Kingdom. 24th August 2018. Tiwa Savage performs on stage for her First solo concert at indigo O2. Photographed by Michael Tubes

When WizKid touched down into the music scene as a breakthrough artist that gave the people the hits they craved back when he was telling us to “Holla at Your Boy”, who would have thought that he’d be the first Afrobeats artist to headline a sold-out show at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. Mind you a show that is still available to watch on the Hall’s official website.  And if you’re wondering who the first African was to hold a sold-out show in Royal Albert Hall, you’d find that it was British-Nigerian singer-songwriter Sade who is the lead singer of the band which is in her name. Other notable performers holding the sold out title are Mama Africa herself, South Africa’s own Miriam Makeba, as well as Ladysmith Black Mambazo also from South Africa,Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal both from Senegal and Salif Keita from Mali.

London UK. 20 January 2016 Senegalese master-musician Baaba Maal returns to Southbank Centre.

You see the flying of the flag of Africans as high achieving, respectable and civilised members of the global society isn’t something that has just started. Music from across the continent has crossed the shores for decades even centuries and reached the ears of our western neighbours to entice them into shaking a leg as they try to keep up with our melodious rhythms and rhymes.

And it’s not just in music. We see African artists popping up with charities and charitable endeavours all over the place. Most notably Benin’s own, the legendary Angelique Kidjo.

Angelique kidjo founded the Batonga charity in 2006 “with the purpose of empowering and educating the most vulnerable adolescent girls.”Angelique Kidjo believes that Africa’s youth, particularly its young women are a powerful investment for the future of Africa. She believes that by improving the lives of women and children, most especially the most marginalised female youth, through education and skills can transform their economic potential to economic power.
The Beninese singer has always used her voice to stand against the forces of the world that trample on the basic human rights of Africans.

What we are seeing today is part of the circle of life and the wave that rises and falls, comes and goes, rages and roars to say that Africans are no different, no better and no worse than any other citizen in civilisation.