UK Afrobeats is on the rise and as the genre continues to become more prominent in the public consciousness, a four-time FA Cup winner has been thrust right into the mix – Didier Drogba.
The former Chelsea striker is an inspiration to south London-born afrobeats pioneer Afro B, helping define his culture and musical pathways, along with his love for the Blues, who take on Manchester United at Wembley Stadium connected by EE this weekend.
With Ivorian heritage, Afro B – real name Ross Bayeto – feels that the Chelsea legend has brought light and exposure to the African nation through his success in football.
And that’s why Afro B’s first song of 2018, which features on his upcoming mixtape ‘Afrowave 2’, is simply named ‘Drogba’.
“My earliest memory of football is Drogba playing for Chelsea,” he said.
“That’s how I got into football. He’s an icon in my country. People from Africa generally were interested in what he was doing for the club and the impact he had.
“He scored a lot in important games. For example, the [Champions League] final against Bayern Munich in 2012 he scored that important header and the penalty to finish off the game, and that’s what really put his name out there.
“When someone from my country does well it represents us and gives an insight into what we can do, it shines a positive light on the country.
“I’m sure, after what Drogba was doing, that people in general were looking at Ivorian players, like the Toures (Kolo and Yaya), Salomon Kalou – we had some great individuals.”
Taking his musical inspiration from African pop, rap and dancehall, Afro B didn’t just dedicate his latest hit to the former Chelsea star.
He also created the #DrogbaChallenge to promote the song and get young people to come up with a dance to pair with it, after which he chose the best one to feature in the video.
Afro B added: “With this genre of afrobeats, nine times out of 10, there’s a dance that’s attached with the song.
“You have to dance regardless, so I had an idea to start the Drogba Challenge to build awareness for the song.
“The dance video was filmed on a football pitch. That might be something that I continue in future, depending on the song. Maybe I’ll pick another Ivorian player to talk about, or another Chelsea player!
“It gave it that global feel because every country is keen on dancing. Whether they understand the song or not, it gets people involved in the culture.”
By mixing football and music, Afro B aims to tap into the cultural aspects that bring people together and believes there are many comparisons between the two.
“Almost every football team has a chant,” he said.
“Every match you go to, you’ll hear the chant of the club, so music is attached to football.
“More young people are watching football these days. It’s a sport for all ages not just adults. It’s diverse, so there’s no limit on who can get involved.”
And ahead to the big match this weekend, Afro B is backing Antonio Conte’s Blues to do the business.
“I think Conte has the passion," he said. "He’s hungry for it.
“The atmosphere of The FA Cup is fantastic, though. Friends support rivals teams, so you can have a laugh. It’s a competition that brings everyone together and football is a sport that brings cultures together.”
