23 June 2022
Showmax premieres Journey of The Beats and includes Spotify playlists with each episode
Journey of the Beats debuts exclusively on Showmax today, 23 June 2022. The 10-part documentary series produced by creative entrepreneur and the creator of Storm Records, Obi Asika, tells a once-in-a-lifetime story that explores the origin and evolution of Afrobeats and black music.
Watch the trailer for Journey of the Beats
Each episode of the series is complemented by a Spotify playlist. Episode One: Origins and the Switch Up is curated by Ed Keazor, co-director, and producer on Journey of the Beats and a historian, lawyer, and musician.
This Spotify playlist of 103 songs straddles the grooves that made Nigeria dance from the dawn of time, with traditional drum and melodic tunes, through to the birth of modern popular music in the 1920s.
The playlist covers the birth of highlife music, through the influence of Latin and Caribbean genres like rhumba and calypso, US jazz, soul, RnB, and funk, as well as the birth of a uniquely Nigerian sound, with juju, highlife, Fuji, and Afrobeat.
Each episode of Journey of the Beats is told through the lens of music historians and some of Nigeria’s most prominent artists, like 2Baba, P-Square, Onyeka Onwenu, Daddy Showkey, Flavour, and D’Banj. The series goes behind the scenes to shed light on the Afrobeats movement that has taken the world by storm.
New episodes of the music documentary drop every Friday exclusively on Showmax. Afrobeats fans, documentary lovers, and anyone who appreciates music will love it.
The Mommy Club NBO now streaming
The Chocolate Empire, now streaming
The best movies to stream
Elphaba and Glinda’s Wicked little guide
Find out what Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have to say about Wicked, pick up 10 magical behind-the-scenes facts, and explore 7 more schools of witchcraft and wizardry.
Push play on Father’s Day: Dads just want to have fun
If you’re trying to figure out what the mystery man known as dad really wants this Father’s Day, promise him one-on-one time with our Dads Just Wanna Have Fun collection.
James McAvoy and James Watkins on Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil director James Watkins and star James McAvoy explain “host” Paddy’s creepy charisma, and we check out 6 more roles that prove you never know what to expect with James McAvoy.
Celebrate World Oceans Day with My Penguin Friend
My Penguin Friend director David Schurmann and actor Jean Reno explain how you shoot a penguin. Plus, explore our World Oceans Day watchlist of 25 wet and wild movies and series.