Theorising Afrobeats Globalisation: A Political Economy of Nigerian Music’s International Expansion

This research develops an original theoretical account of the globalisation of Afrobeats, situating Nigeria's music export success within a political economy framework that examines the structural, institutional, and agentic conditions enabling this cultural phenomenon. While existing scholarship on Afrobeats globalisation has largely focused on cultural flows, identity politics, and diaspora dynamics, a rigorous political economy analysis examining the role of global music corporations, streaming platform algorithms, talent management economies, and state cultural policy in shaping and mediating Afrobeats' international trajectory remains absent. This study employs a multi-method design combining political economy analysis of the global music industry's engagement with African artists, discourse analysis of international media coverage of Afrobeats from 2018 to 2024, semi-structured interviews with 25 key informants including major label executives, independent Nigerian artist managers, streaming platform regional directors, and Nigerian government cultural economy officials. Global value chain analysis is applied to map economic flows within the Afrobeats international market. The study draws on world systems theory, cultural imperialism critique, and recent global music industry scholarship. Findings will produce an original theoretical model of Afrobeats globalisation that accounts for both the structural constraints and the agentic creativity of Nigerian music practitioners navigating a highly unequal global cultural economy. Keywords: Afrobeats globalisation, political economy, music industry, Nigeria, global cultural flows.