Sade: Nigerian Roots, Timeless Soul—Was She the Original Afrobeats? Before today’s Afrobeats stars, Sade was bringing her unmistaka...

Sade: Nigerian Roots, Timeless Soul—Was She the Original Afrobeats?

Before today’s Afrobeats stars, Sade was bringing her unmistakable voice to listeners around the world. Born Helen Folasade Adu in Ibadan, Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and English mother, she moved to England at four. Her Nigerian roots are an essential part of her story.

Did she create Afrobeat or Afrobeats? No. Classic Afrobeat was pioneered by Fela Kuti with drummer Tony Allen. Modern Afrobeats, with an “s,” is a later umbrella for contemporary West African pop. Sade’s signature sound belongs more to soul, jazz and sophisticated pop.

But if you love a rolling groove and vocals that float over the rhythm, revisit “The Sweetest Taboo.” From the band’s 1985 album Promise, it’s my pick for this feature: its layered percussion and warm bass make it a rewarding listen for Afrobeats fans. That’s a listening comparison, rather than a claim that the song is Afrobeats.

Nigeria gave the world more than one kind of musical greatness. Sade deserves her flowers.

▶️ Watch Sade—“The Sweetest Taboo” (Official Video)

Explore more African music legends at RAPFRICAN.com.