Afrobeat or Afrobeats? Active Listening in Slow Motion

A calm listening game to close the session: clips play and students walk slowly toward the cone for the style they think they hear. It brings heart rate down and locks in the difference between '70s Afrobeat and today's Afrobeats.

How to play

1. One-line review: Afrobeat (Fela Kuti, Nigeria, 1970s, long tracks with horns and political lyrics) and Afrobeats (today's West African pop) (1 min).
2. Six 30-second clips: walk in slow motion to the 'Afrobeat' or 'Afrobeats' cone and hold a calf or quad stretch when you get there (4 min).
3. After each clip, the teacher reveals the answer and a clue (instruments, tempo, vocals) (2 min).
4. Wrap-up: everyone shares one clue that helped them (1 min).

Rules

• Walk slowly: accuracy wins, not speed.
• Hold the stretch at the cone without bouncing while the music plays.
• Don't call out the answer before the clip ends.
• Low volume, to match the cool-down.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf students: visual version with album covers or instrument photos, plus the speaker's vibration.
• Limited mobility: point to the cone and do the stretch seated.
• Students with visual impairments: replace the cones with two classmates calling out from each side.

Learning goals

• Bring activation down with slow movement.
• Tell two music styles apart by their sound.
• Reinforce the cultural context from the session.

Equipment for a class of 25

• speaker: 1
• cones: 2

Teacher tip

Build the playlist before class with clips already trimmed. Common mistake: choosing clips with very recognizable vocals; go for instrumental sections.

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