Waka Waka (This Time) for Africa (2010): Featured on the 2010 FIFA World Cup soundtrack, the single became synonymous with football and emerged as a global hit. Inspired by diverse musical backgrounds, Colombian singer Shakira and South African afrofusion group Freshlyground created an anthem infused with genres like kwela, Congolese rumba, makossa, soca, and blues.
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (1983): Already a star in the 1980s, Michael Jackson ventured away from the disco-heavy sounds of the previous decade. Written by Jackson and co-produced by the legendary Quincy Jones, the song melds funk, dance-pop, and makossa; the latter derived from an unauthorised interpolation of Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango’s classic, “Soul Makossa.”
Adventure of a Lifetime (2014): Off their seventh album, A Head Full of Dreams, British band Coldplay’s track merged disco, funk, and pop. Although the band never confirmed it, several listeners noted similarities to African guitar riffs, particularly those familiar with the Zimbabwean musical style sungura.
Grown Woman (2013): A promotional single tied to Beyoncé’s eponymous fifth album, the pop song earned praise for its lyrics, instrumentation, and vocal arrangements. It also embraced African influences, including Afrobeat rhythms and chanting from Guinean griot Ismael Kouyaté, who provided backup vocals.
Papaoutai (2013): Renowned for genre-bending, Belgian singer Stromae pushed musical boundaries with this lead single from his sophomore album. With his masterful fusion of Congolese rumba and electropop, it’s difficult seeing the uptempo dance record as the story of a boy growing up without a father.
Make the Road by Walking (2008): Often sampled in hip-hop, the breakout track from American instrumental band Menahan Street Band is an integration of jazz, soul, funk, afrobeat, and ethio-jazz. With crisp drums, bass guitar riffs, and prominent horns, the recording stands strong without vocals.
Let the Groove Get In (2013): This underrated Latin pop record from American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake is infused with soul, R&B, and traditional Burkinabe elements. The intro features a sped-up, high-pitched sample of “Alhamdulillaahi”, a song from an album of Burkinabe field recordings from the 1970s.