Afrobeats meets contemporary art

Afrobeats music has become a global phenomenon in the past decade, blending traditional west African highlife with the melodies of R&B and hip-hop. The Nigerian singer Mr Eazi is one of its stars and for his 2023 debut album, The Evil Genius, he commissioned contemporary west African artists to produce 16 original artworks that responded to the themes and emotions of each track. Cultureshock collated the artworks into a book celebrating the twin energies of West Africa’s art and music scenes, featuring conversations with the artists, a peek behind the scenes at the making of the album and an interview with Nigerian-British curator Aindrea Emelife. It is a unique perspective on a thriving centre of contemporary popular culture.