KHADS ARK MAGAZINE
Preserving art to outlive us
by Zhakiya
Altè: The Sound of the Diaspora
The emergence of Altè music in Nigeria signifies a movement of a non-conforming, radical, creative identity. Altè is a genre that is defined by its rejection of cultural and traditional restrictions. The fusion of Afrobeats, Dancehall, Alternative RnB, Indie and Reggae creates a sound of the diaspora resulting in its own unique culture, music and fashion. It’s fair to say that the community is pioneering a new wave of creative expression to put Africa on the world’s stage.
Altè (named by Teezee) is short for ‘alternative’ and marks the moment in time when the Nigerian population experienced increased exposure to the internet introducing them to Western cultural influences. The genre combines Nigerian and Western influences creating an affable community that supports and works with each other. Artists are united by their urge to express creativity in a society that traditionally suppresses it.
It’s not uncommon to always see the big names in Alté around each other, it truly is a community. The genre has brought together innovative producers, artists and stylists who continue to push boundaries leading with messages of freedom to be sex-positive, enjoy life and party. It also expresses intense feelings of love, relationships, stages in life and so much more. It is so undefined it is everything.
The call for artistic expression comes from a politically engaged generation who express their affiliations through clothing. Tattoos, piercings and dyed hair mark a progressive outlook on life with a belief in the feminist movement and similar social justice movements. Fashion communicates a set of ideals, the notion that the oppressive norms of the past no longer hold weight in this generation. With unwavering boldness to loudly express themselves the youth of Nigeria, sport Y2k fashions with a nod to their African heritage. It’s having an appreciation for where you come from and showing that apparel transcends borders and regions, it’s universal, it knows no language, and it’s undefinable.
The world has started to recognise the Altè movement as the genre has seen breakout success with artists such as Rema, Tems, Fireboy DML, and Ayra Starr. Artists present a new and fresh continental sound to the wider world, showing Africa through a much more favourable lens than in the past. In recent years West Africa has become a popular holiday destination for black people all around the world to come and experience Africa for themselves. A chance to deconstruct all the problematic views they may have once had about the continent as a whole. The introduction of unapologetic artistic expression has done Nigeria well and in turn the portrayal of Africa. Nigerians continue to spearhead and pioneer musical movements that put Africa on the map and make the world stop and watch. We are watching a new Africa develop right in front of our eyes and people all across the diaspora take joy in it. This is Altè: The Sound of the Diaspora.