Largely touted as the music of the motherland, the heart of Africa and the force that stood firm against political oppression; Afrobeat as a genre remains to this day, a musical outsider.

During the struggles, oppression and political corruption that plagued West African nations in the 70s, a music that juxtaposed the ugly side of colonialism and dictatorship arose and a gave voice to a disenfranchised majority hoping for a better Africa. From its birth in Nigeria, powerfully crafted by it's founder - the late Fela Kuti - Afrobeat has transcended and transformed the music of Africans and the world over.

Now, what's left to be answered is why such a profoundly radical sound has been neglected by the mainstream?

There are a number of responses to this question. And many of these surfaced at a recent panel discussion that took place last week. Richmix arts centre in Shoreditch, London invited some of Afrobeat's most renowned creators and supporters to explore this question. The discussion was graced by a panel of reputable Afrobeat artists including that of Tony Allen - legendary drummer who played alongside the maestro Fela Kuti. Also on the panel was artist/painter Lemi Ghariokwu, Wumni, dubbed the "Afrobeat Queen," DJ Rich Medina from Philadelphia, and Afrobeat musician Dele Sosimi.

The discussion's primary focus was that Afrobeat has not, and is not being promoted or getting the recognition it deserves. It appears that a lot of the music we hear today have all taken influences from the pioneering Afrobeat, yet, it is Afrobeat that is still to be recognised as a solid genre.

Tony Allen said: "I would have loved Afrobeat to have reached the same level as hip hop, Rock and Funk..." He raised an issue that hip hop artists get their beats and rhythms from the Afrobeat sound which is all well and good, but "Why not do hip hop on their own beat?" And the same can be said about jazz music. The late James Brown was musically influenced after taking trips to Africa and going back to the States to incorporate what he'd learnt and heard. However, the same rings true with the great Fela Kuti; after a short time in the US he was inspired by the Black Panther Movement, and so imported this mindset back to Nigeria. DJ Rich Medina said: "This was James Brown with a political agenda."

This shows that throughout history music has always been 're-used' and therefore imitation and influence should be seen as flattering rather than faltering.

This doesn't shy from the reason that Afrobeat was still lagging behind other more prominent genres, perhaps attributable with the genre's contextual relevance. It shone through at a time when African nations were at their worst and for that Afrobeat should forever be played and praised. But what seems apparent is that although the importance of the past accounts for the present time, it also reflects a significant move forward from then to now. The good thing is that the world is no longer going through the same struggle nor fighting the same battle. It's a different ball game now - with change comes new age, new music and a new cause.

Words: Kristina Oumouassan