New performers called hypemen are changing African music. They use a lot of energy to change the Afrobeats genre. This new style is called Afrohype or lamba. These performers use loud voices and funny sounds to make the crowd excited during live shows. They help the music feel more rhythmic.
One famous performer is Toby Shang. He started his journey at the University of Lagos in 2015. He was a history student there. His classmates gave him his stage name after a presentation in his first semester. The name came from a Chinese dynasty from the 16th century. Toby Shang was also an energizer for a three-man musical group in high school.
This job is now very profitable. Hypemen are important because they control the energy of a place. Some hypemen earn between 5 million and 8 million naira for one performance. This performance lasts between 30 minutes and one hour. This shows that their skills are very valuable.
This music has old roots in African traditions. In the past, West African storytellers called griots used their voices to talk to communities. The "atalaku" tradition from the Democratic Republic of Congo also helps this style. This influence is also seen in Cรดte dโIvoire with coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ music. Female performers are also part of this scene. Lady Ponce is a famous performer. People call her the "100,000-volt lady" because she has so much energy.