African Instrumentals: Every Genre, One Catalogue

African instrumentals are not one sound, they never have been. What's playing in a Lagos studio session is not what's playing in a Nairobi one, and neither sounds anything like what's coming out of Luanda or Dakar. Buying instrumentals for African music means knowing which genre you're actually chasing, because the production choices, tempo, and instrumentation differ enormously by region, and a beat built for one market can miss entirely in another.

Mbeatz's catalogue is built to reflect that range rather than flatten it: Afrobeats from Nigeria, Amapiano and SA Hip-Hop from South Africa, Arbantone, Gengetone, and Kenya Drill from Kenya, Highlife and Asakaa from Ghana, Coupé-Décalé and Rap Ivoire from Ivory Coast, Ndombolo from the DRC, Mbalax from Senegal, Kizomba and Afro House Angolano from Angola, Mahraganat and Egyptian Trap from Egypt, Moroccan and Algerian rap and trap, Cameroonian Afrotrap, Zimdancehall, and Bongo Piano from Tanzania.

How to choose the right instrumental

• Match the genre to your market first, a beat that's perfect for Lagos may miss entirely in Dakar or Luanda
• Check the tempo and arrangement against what's actually charting in your country right now, not what was charting five years ago
• Read the license before you buy, especially if you're planning commercial release or streaming distribution
• Preview the full track, not a 30-second snippet, before you commit to a purchase

FAQ

How do I know which genre fits my target market? Start with what's actually charting in your country right now, not what a genre was known for a decade ago. If you're unsure, Mbeatz's genre pages each break down the current biggest and breakout artists for that specific sound.

Are the beats exclusive, or can multiple artists buy the same one? That depends on the license tier. Basic and Premium leases are non-exclusive, meaning other artists can also license the same beat; an Exclusive license removes it from sale entirely once purchased.

Browse by genre

Every genre on Mbeatz has its own dedicated catalogue page at mbeatz.org/beats. Pay with M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Apple Pay, or card, and download instantly.