The Complete Evolution of Afrobeats Dance Styles Over the Years

When people discuss Afrobeats, they often discuss hits, chart-topping success, and stadium shows. But if we’re being honest, the real question after hearing a song is, ‘Can you dance to it?’ We all watch music videos and TikTok challenges, and we can’t deny the fact that we love the dance moves.  From the streets of Ajegunle to TikTok feeds in London, the evolution of Afrobeats dance styles has propelled Nigerian and African music worldwide. Every era has had “that one move” that people imitate, often by repeating the dance steps of and analysing from the era of Etighi and Azonto to Galala and Shoki to Shaku Shaku, Zanku (legwork) and today’s Amapiano-inspired grooves. 

In this article, we’ll walk through the history of Afrobeats dance, how Nigerian street dance evolution shaped the sound, and why viral Afrobeats dance challenges now decide which songs blow up globally.

History of Afrobeats Dance: Afrobeats vs. Afrobeat

Before we begin, let us clarify a common misconception. There is a difference between Afrobeat and Afrobeats. Afrobeat is a West African music genre that mixes traditional Nigerian and Ghanaian music with American funk, jazz, and highlife, characterised by long songs, intricate horn arrangements, and socially conscious lyrics. It was created by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, who popularised it in the 1970s through his large bands and political activism. On the other hand, Afrobeats is a modern, West African pop-driven sound that emerged in the early 2000s, characterised by its upbeat, danceable rhythms and a fusion of various global influences, including hip-hop, house, R&B, and dancehall, with highlife and Naija beats.

However, most of the popular Afrobeats dance moves we discuss today originated from this newer Afrobeats era, even though they draw inspiration from older Nigerian street and traditional dances.

Afrobeats Dance Styles Over the Years

Long before TikTok and dance challenges, Nigerian streets were already cooking up serious moves.

1. Galala – Ajegunle’s Signature Bounce

Galala originated in the ghettos of Lagos, particularly in Ajegunle. It was heavily influenced by reggae and dancehall, characterised by bent knees, a low centre of gravity, and a rough, “survivor” energy. The dance became tied to ghetto life, used to express both struggle and joy among the youth. Artists like Daddy Showkey and other Ajegunle stars helped popularise this style in mainstream Nigerian culture, laying the foundation for the evolution of Nigerian street dance. 

2. Etighi, Azonto & Skelewu – Club-Friendly Grooves

As Afrobeats gained popularity in the 2010s, so did the connection between songs and specific dances. Music videos, clubs and TV all helped push certain moves into national trends. From the South-South came Etighi, a dance from Calabar/Akwa Ibom that focused on hip, waist and lower-body movements. Nigerian musician Iyanya introduced it to a national audience through his 2012 hit song, “Kukere.”

Next, Ghanaian artists like Sarkodie and Fuse ODG popularised the Azonto dance, which originated in Ghana. While Wizkid’s “Azonto” song helped popularise the dance in Nigeria and beyond, it wasn’t the original point. 

Then came Skelewu, introduced by Davido for his 2013 song of the same name. He promoted the dance by releasing an instructional video and a social media dance competition, which helped popularise it. These dances didn’t just live in clubs but became full-fledged Afrobeats dance trends on TV, at weddings, and on social media. 

3. Shoki – The Era of “One Hit, One Dance”

The Shoki dance was popularised by Nigerian musician Lil Kesh, who released the hit song “Shoki” in 2014. While Lil Kesh is credited with popularising the dance, he has stated that it originated in the Agege region of Lagos State, Nigeria, before his song was released. 

With Shoki’s release, it became evident that every new song would have its dance step. This marked the beginning of the full-blown Afrobeats dance era.

4. Shaku Shaku to Zanku: When the Streets Took Over

By the mid-late 2010s, the streets took complete control. Dance was no longer just “part of” a song release. Shaku Shaku exploded around 2017 from the streets of Lagos. Olamide is credited with introducing and popularising the Shaku Shaku dance in 2017, bringing it to mainstream Nigerian media. While Olamide popularised it, the dance originated in the streets, particularly in the Agege area of Lagos. It was loose and freestyle, with bent knees, crossed wrists and a swaggering bounce. Articles describing viral African dances call it one of the first African moves to honestly “go internet-viral”, helped by Olamide’s “Wo” challenge and dance crews like Westsyde. 

Just as everyone settled into Shaku Shaku, Zlatan popularised Zanku (legwork)—an even more energetic style built on rapid foot shuffles, kicks, and jumps. He popularised it through his 2018 hit song “Able God” and the release of his 2019 track “Zanku (Leg Work)”. The dance name Zanku is an abbreviation for “Zlatan Abeg No Kill Us.” 

From here, you get sub-styles and spin-offs like

• Poco dance (popularised by Poco Lee)
• New legwork variations with handkerchiefs, jumps and freestyle tricks.

READ MORE:

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5. Amapiano, TikTok and the New Afrobeats Dance Era

In the 2020s, South Africa’s Amapiano sound and dance entered the mix, featuring log drums, mid-tempo bounce, and smooth yet detailed legwork. Articles on African dance trends describe Amapiano moves as quick-step footwork, body rolls and soulful groove. Now, Amapiano isn’t just a sound heard in South Africa or Nigeria, but is also popular in London, as a genre.

Many Afrobeats and Afropiano songs share similar dance steps:

• Soft legwork
• Hip isolation
• Shoulder and chest pushes
• Group choreography designed for social media videos

Then came TikTok, which helped wrap up this era by pushing it farther and not necessarily waiting till the song is released before there’s a dance move. Now, a song isn’t entirely “out”, but someone could do a challenge on TikTok, and automatically, that TikTok dance challenge is often intertwined with the song and more or less featured in the music video whenever it is finally released. 

Conclusion: Viral Afrobeats Dance Challenges

From the reggae-inspired Galala of Ajegunle to the lightning-fast legwork of Zanku, and from Shoki and Shaku Shaku to Amapiano-driven TikTok routines, the evolution of Afrobeats dance styles demonstrates the profound connection between movement and music in African culture. As Afrobeats keeps conquering the world, it’s not just the sound people are copying, but it’s the moves. And with each new viral step, another chapter is added to the ongoing evolution of Nigerian street dance.

If you loved exploring how Nigerian culture is expressed through music, film, dance, and travel, you can always find more guides, lists, and stories on RexClarkeAdventures.com. 

FAQs About the Evolution of Afrobeats Dance Styles

1: What was the first big Afrobeats-era dance style?

Many people point to older street styles, such as Galala, as foundations, but in the modern Afrobeats era, moves like Etighi and Skelewu were among the first major nationwide trends linked directly to pop hits.

2: Which Afrobeats dance moves went the most viral online?

In terms of pure internet impact, Shoki, Shaku Shaku and Zanku (legwork) stand out. Shaku Shaku, in particular, is often described as one of the first African dances to blow up through online challenges and dance crew videos, truly. 

3: How has Amapiano changed Afrobeats dance styles?

Amapiano brought a smoother, mid-tempo groove that still relies heavily on legwork and body rolls. Its influence led to more blended routines, where Afrobeats songs sometimes use Amapiano-style moves and vice versa, especially in Afrobeats choreography on TikTok and Reels.