Beyoncé has just released her seventh solo studio album, titled Renaissance (2022). The album, which is creating an event in global popular culture, is the first of a three-part project. His previous opus, the visual album Black is King (2020), was produced in collaboration with many African artists. Renaissance pays homage to black dance music and again features African artists, including Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems, who is having her own moment of glory.
In history, the Renaissance (14th century to 16th century) is characterized by the desire to rediscover the cultural grandeur of the Greco-Roman past and the revival of scholarship in Europe after a period of stagnation. Even today, art (painting, music, fashion) influences how people dress and behave, what they choose to display and say, and how they perceive themselves. and perceive society.
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Over the past three decades, Beyoncé has played a major role in shaping global popular culture. She has consistently empowered her listeners and sparked debate, and her song lyrics have often been quoted in discussions of social issues. His take on monogamy in the album Dangerously in Love (2003), for example, offers a counter-narrative to the patriarchal portrayal of hypersexuality among black women.
On Lemonade (2016), Beyoncé uses very diverse musical genres, which go beyond the stereotypes usually associated with a black artist. In doing so, she questions the mechanisms of discrimination of which she is a victim. On Black is Kingit testifies to a renaissance of African art forms at a time when cultural norms dominated by Western thought are in decline and Africa is a rising star in popular culture.
In this article, I wish to demonstrate that throughout her career, Beyoncé has contributed to a renewal of narratives in popular music and, in doing so, has made a significant commitment to African culture and music.
African Collaborations
Beyoncé has associated various African artists with her projects and has often presented them to international audiences. Before Black is Kingwe can quote the poetry of Warsan Shire, originally from Kenya, on Lemonadea quote from Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Flawless (2013) and choreography by Tofo Tofo, which is a dance group based in Mozambique, in the video by Run the World (Girls).
Although the cultures of the African continent are not as present as on Black is KingBeyoncé has also called on African artists on Renaissanceespecially on the song Movewhose style is inspired by Afrobeats and on which appear P2J (Nigeria) and GuiltyBeatz (Ghana) as producers, as well as Tems as author and performer.
Tems (Temilade Openiyi), a versatile vocalist, rose to prominence after collaborating on Essence (2020) by Nigerian star WizKid. His discography crosses different genres, including alternative R&B, neo-soul and Afropop. Her first single Mr Rebel (2018) showcases her R&B talents (both as a producer and singer), while her 2021 featuring on Fountains by Canadian rapper Drake shows his ability to convey emotions through his voice.
Tems’ name has been on everyone’s lips since the release of the trailer for the film’s second installment Black Panther, in which she resumes No woman No Cry by Bob Marley. She has helped popularize and renew our perception of Afropop and commercial African music.
Black is King
Black is King, Beyoncé’s previous album, is a celebration of African traditions with a modern twist. In this visual album, she adopts a Pan-African inspired perspective and incorporates elements from several African countries. She partners with various African actors, directors, designers, choreographers and musicians, thus highlighting the cultural diversity of the continent.
Viewers are exposed to elements ranging from music genres like afrobeats (Nigeria) and gqom (South Africa) to popular dance styles like Network (Ghana) and Kpakujemu (Nigeria). It also shows landscapes from all over the continent.
Beyoncé should not be credited with inventing these elements, or even giving her all the credit for popularizing them. They existed and were appreciated long before she started showing them. However, there is no denying the instrumental role Beyoncé has played in bringing these elements to the fore in global popular culture, thanks to her status as an international star.
Furthermore, the visual album gives a truer representation of the African continent and its diversity than other works that draw inspiration from African cultures in global popular culture. Black is King introduced a revival of the image of Africa in popular media and empowered many Africans and black people, who finally feel better represented in mainstream popular culture.
Renaissance
Beyoncé has once again incorporated an element of revival into Renaissance. Across the album’s 16 tracks, she takes listeners on a journey with the stated intention of creating a safe space free from judgment, perfectionism and overthinking. Listeners are exposed to the music of Studio 54, hailing from the disco era of the 1970s, with effortless transitions into more contemporary genres (pop, R&B and house).
Early disco was influenced by late 1960s funk, soul, and jazz, and combined these styles with technologies such as synthesizers, multitrack recordings, and drum machines. This spawned a lavish, decadent form of dance-driven pop music characterized by a steady beat and prominent, high-pitched vocals paired with reverb effects. The genre had its heyday between 1975 and early 1979, with artists such as Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor dominating the music charts.
On the aptly named title Renaissance, Beyoncé brought this style back to the forefront of pop culture, introducing it to many young listeners. From the first single Break My Soul, listeners are exposed to the album’s ubiquitous dance-pop and house style. Beyoncé successfully incorporates musical genres such as pop, electronic house, afrobeats, trap and soul, to name a few, in combination with various disco influences. The album’s lyrics portray an overall sense of self-love and pride. It sounds like the music of one of South Africa’s and the continent’s most important pop artists, Brenda Fassie (1964-2004).
Throughout her career, Fassie, one of the queens of African pop, has made disco and pop music influenced by her experience in the black ghettos. His signature music told the story of black South Africans during the apartheid era.
Beyoncé’s work, throughout her career, serves as a platform for African artists on the world stage, using various musical genres to counter stereotypes associated with black musicians and renew the narratives associated with their realities. His latest album continues in this direction by introducing new listeners to a revival of disco with a contemporary twist.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.