What is Afro House? Here’s Everything You Need to Know (2025)

Want a quick rundown on Afro House? We’ve got you covered!

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Afro House, from where it came from to what makes it unique. Plus, we’ll introduce you to some of the best artists in the scene. Let’s dive in!

What is Afro House?

Afro House, a subgenre of House music, merges African sounds and rhythms with contemporary House production and beats.

While retaining the classic House music tempo and 4-on-the-floor rhythm, Afro House incorporates more intricate percussion patterns, unique instruments, and sounds and vocals reminiscent of traditional African music.

The extent of African elements in tracks varies significantly. Let’s explore a few examples:

Check out this cool track from the 2024 global hit “Mwaki”!

It features a Kenyan singer named Sofiya Nzau belting out a song in the Kikuyu language. Kikuyu is a language spoken by an ethnic group from Central Kenya.

Another great example is Yamore:

This track incorporates various languages, including English, French (which is prevalent in Africa due to colonization), Cape Verdean (an island nation in West Africa), and Bambara (the indigenous language of Mali).

This track exemplifies the global fusion that defines Afro House.

In addition to traditional instruments like the Cavaquinho (a Portuguese four-string guitar also found in Cape Verde), African congas, and the accordion, the track retains many of House’s defining characteristics, including a powerful kick on every beat and deep sub-bass.

Origins of Afro House

Afro House is a musical genre that blends the diverse sounds of Africa with electronic music.

As electronic music became popular in the late 20th century, producers started mixing traditional African sounds with House music.

There’s no exact date when Afro House started, but producers kept adding tribal drums, vocal chants, and regional instruments to classic House beats.

African rhythms are known for their complex polyrhythms and call-and-response patterns. These elements helped create Afro House. House music started in Chicago in the 1980s and eventually spread to Europe and other parts of the world, where it mixed with African musical traditions.

Here are some tracks and albums that give us a glimpse into the early days of Afro-House:

* “Zabalaza” by Oskido
* “Black Coffee” by Black Coffee (his debut album)
* “Es’khaleni” by DJ Cleo (his debut album)

Key Characteristics of Afro House

Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s dive deeper into what makes Afro House so special.

African instruments
The heart and soul of Afro House are its traditional instruments. If you’re just starting out with Afro House, try experimenting with these elements.

Djembe
The djembe is a small drum from West Africa that you can play with your bare hands!

It’s known for its deep, resonant bass tones and sharp slaps. In Afro House, the djembe provides a driving motion, moving the track forward between sections.

Mbira
Have you heard of the mbira? It’s also known as the thumb piano. It comes from Zimbabwe and has metal tines attached to a wooden board. It makes a super soft and sweet sound. In the music industry, it’s usually called a kalimba.

Balafon

The balafon is a type of xylophone originating from West Africa. It creates bright, vibrant tones that can lift a track and add a sense of joy.

Shekers

The shekere is a percussive instrument covered with beads. The sound is produced by shaking it and rattling the beads (or sometimes stones) against the surface. This produces a sound similar to a shaker.

A shekere is not immediately noticeable in a track. Producers often blend it in with multiple other layers, so that it adds to the groove instead of standing out.

Vocals

Vocals, beyond the instruments, are what set Afro House apart. While not mandatory, vocals provide cultural context and convey the song’s emotions and origins.

Call-and-response patterns, where two distinct phrases are used in a conversational manner, are frequently employed. For instance, consider this example:

Listen to the intro of the track. You’ll hear the call (the main vocal) and the response (the group chant that starts with a low-pass filter). This kind of vocal structure is like the roots of African music.

Producers often use indigenous African languages in their music, but they also mix English and other languages. The vocalists work together on each track, making the music even more diverse.

Sometimes, producers take traditional songs and chants and use special effects to change their sound.

Some Artists You Can Check Out

Several artists have been instrumental in shaping the genre. Here’s a great starting point for your exploration.

Black Coffee

Black Coffee, a South African DJ and producer, is one of the most prominent figures in Afro House. He is a significant ambassador for the genre and one of the pioneers who successfully blended traditional African sounds with modern house beats.

Kasango

Kasango, a South African DJ and producer, has garnered international recognition for his music. His breakthrough came with the 2021 hit “Osama,” a collaboration with Zakes Bantwini.

Despite being relatively new to the Afro House scene, Kasango’s sound embodies the core elements of the genre—rhythmic intricacy, soulful vocals, and a deep connection to African traditions.

If you are a music producer who want to start to produce Afro House music, then you can check our Collection of Afro House Templates