Duncan Mighty: Port Harcourt Built Afrobeats Foundation

Popular Nigerian singer Duncan Mighty has reignited a perennial debate on the origins and influences of modern Afrobeats, boldly claiming that he and other artists hailing from Port Harcourt are responsible for laying the foundation upon which today’s globalized genre is built. His assertion, made during a recent interview with Hip TV, has already sparked mixed reactions across the Nigerian music landscape.

Duncan Mighty based his claim on the pervasive incorporation of Port Harcourt’s unique cultural elements into contemporary Afrobeats sounds and lyrics. He specifically cited himself, alongside internationally renowned stars like Timaya, Burna Boy, and fast-rising sensation Omah Lay, as key figures whose collective influence has fundamentally shaped the current music scene.

The singer argued that the indelible mark of the South-South region can be distinctly heard in nearly all successful Afrobeats tracks today. He emphasized the presence of specific cultural linguistic elements, stating, “In almost every Afrobeats song today you can hear the Port Harcourt influence, especially the Ikwerri slangs.” According to Duncan Mighty, this linguistic and musical fusion demonstrates the city’s critical role in the genre’s evolution.

He stressed that the sound of the city has become an essential ingredient for contemporary artists, whether they originate from the region or not. “You can’t hear any Afrobeats song today and you will not hear a spice of Port Harcourt. Almost every Afrobeats song today has the flavour of Port Harcourt sound,” he maintained. He then synthesized his argument into a definitive statement on historical musical influence: “I, Burna Boy, Timaya, Omah Lay and Port Harcourt sound built the foundation of today’s Afrobeats.”

Duncan Mighty’s emphatic claims have not gone unchallenged. While his statement highlights the undeniable impact of artists from Rivers State on the national and global music charts, it has been met with considerable debate online. Many critics and music fans immediately countered his position, accusing him of “over emphasising” the influence of Port Harcourt and its artists, arguing that the foundation of Afrobeats is far broader and includes vital contributions from artists in Lagos, the East, and the diaspora, dating back to Fela Kuti and extending through the early 2000s era of Pop and R&B-influenced Nigerian music. Despite the controversy, Duncan Mighty’s declaration successfully drew attention to the significant contributions of the Port Harcourt music scene to the genre’s global ascent.