Duncan Mighty States Port Harcourt Musicians Laid the Groundwork for Modern Afrobeats (Video)

Duncan Mighty

Afrobeats owes much of its evolution to the distinctive sounds emerging from Port Harcourt, according to Nigerian music sensation Duncan Mighty.

In an exclusive chat with Hip TV, the acclaimed artist highlighted how he, alongside fellow Port Harcourt-born stars like Burna Boy, Timaya, and Omah Lay, have shaped the genre’s current trajectory by infusing local dialects and rhythms.

“Today’s Afrobeats pulsates with the soul of Port Harcourt—its slang, its cadence. If you listen closely, you’ll catch the unmistakable Ikwerre flair in almost every track.”

“From chart-toppers to underground hits, our city’s essence echoes throughout. Burna Boy, Timaya, Omah Lay, and I—we didn’t just contribute; we laid the blueprint for modern Afrobeats,” he asserted.

While some fans celebrated his remarks, others debated whether the Port Harcourt narrative overshadowed broader influences in the genre’s explosive growth.