Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-24-2025
Abstract
Examining literature on the under researched areas of Afrobeats and African migration to Britain, this article identifies significant internal shifts in the ethnic diversity of Black Britain —i.e., from Caribbean (predominantly Jamaican) to West African (Nigerian, Ghanaian) (ONS 2011). Interpreting literature and applying to the British context, it highlights how Afrobeats reshapes Blackness in Britain, particularly the incorporation of desirable Africanness through Afrobeats music. It argues that demographic and musical shifts in Britain result in a renegotiation of the Caribbean and US dominant 20th century Black Britishness — ‘UK Blak’ identity (as identified by Bradley 2013, Gilroy 1993 & Palmer 2011). It proposes a new 21st century ‘NU-K Blak’ identity that incorporates West African culture and aesthetics. The article contextualises and builds upon limited research on Afrobeats, Black British youth and their musical identities and elucidates the significance of migration, London and West African values to Afrobeats’ commercial success.
Recommended Citation
Charles, M. 2025. Black on Black sounds: Music, Migration, and the ‘NU-K Blak’ identity formation in early 21st century Britain. Journal of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music 15 (2): 21-43. DOI: https://10.5429/2079-3871(2025)v15i2.3en
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
IASPM Journal
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Included in
African History Commons, African Studies Commons, Cultural History Commons, Ethnomusicology Commons, European History Commons, Global Studies Commons, Musicology Commons, Music Theory Commons, Other International and Area Studies Commons, Other Music Commons
Comments
This article was originally published in Journal of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, volume 15, issue 2, in 2025. https://10.5429/2079-3871(2025)v15i2.3en