From London to Lagos, Bollywood music sensation Kanika Kapoor has taken a bold step by blending Afrobeats into her signature Indian pop. Now settled in Nigeria and embracing new creative energy, she shares her journey of love, cultural fusion, and finding a second home in Afrobeats.

It could be the plot sequence for a rom-com blockbuster, but Kanika Kapoor’s relocation from India to Lagos two years ago—following her marriage to her Nigerian-Indian husband—sparked an Afrobeats pop fusion that has since shaped her career.

READ ALSO: Davido, Odumodublvck, Chike unite in electrifying new music video, Funds

The London-born Indian music star has been active for over a dozen years, with several of her songs being scored for major Bollywood blockbusters, including Nachan Farrate in All Is Well (2015). She has now taken a sharp twist, fusing contemporary Afrobeats into her music.

Her latest single, Matak Matak, produced by Nigerian beatmaker Timi Boi, marries her stretchy melodic choruses with the percussive groove of Afrobeats. She also layers the lyricism with Indian cultural motifs.

“I’m now a Nigerian wife,” she declares, adding that her relocation ushered in some creative therapy for her. “I think my dreams are becoming bigger here.” With another song—Koka—featuring Ria Sean, Kanika Kapoor believes that just like Lagos, Afrobeats has become home to her artistry, with more fusions scheduled to be released in 2025.

In this week’s Guardian Music, the 43-year-old singer opens up on her journey bridging the Indian and Afrobeats music scene, her unique love story where she follows her heart from London to Lagos during the thick of the COVID-19 lockdowns, and her plans to create more music celebrating Indian and Nigerian heritage.

Why did you decide to explore Afrobeats-Indian fusions?

I moved to Lagos in January 2022. I got married to a Nigerian-Indian born in Jos. Back in India and the UK, I already had a big career, so I wondered, “What will I do here?” I then set up a studio, found some music producers, and started building more Afrobeats-inspired songs. People in India and Indians around the world love Afrobeats at the moment—it’s streaming everywhere. Why not play with it?

Tell us about your latest fusion, Matak Matak.

When I realised Rema’s Calm Down became a big hit in India—anywhere I go, any cafe or bookstore, the masses were playing different versions of it—I realised that India is now ready for Afrobeats, and it’s ready for the Nigerian voice because they love it so much now.
On the first song, Matak Matak, I put a touch of India in the hook line, which means shaking of the hips, basically dancing. And there’s a lot more to come.

I have a lot of music that is now going to be released in Nigeria with a lot of Nigerian artists and producers. I didn’t think it was possible for Kanika to have a career locally, because I was not sure if I would be accepted in Nigeria. But I think that the more people listen to the music we’ve created, the more they will love it. I am a Nigerian wife now.

Tell us about that love story

Many Nigerians also have a base in the UK, and a lot of them live in London. I met my husband in London almost 18 years ago, because he used to come there a lot. He studied there also. So, around 2010, I asked him out and he rejected me. We had always sort of crushed on each other.

He was the one for me, and he was meant for me. And I think he rejected me then because he thought I would never want to move to Nigeria and change my base with a career. And so he never pursued it. But during the COVID lockdown, we spent a lot of time in London together. He understood I was very open to moving countries for love, and I did that.

How do you find your new settlement here?

To be honest, when I announced I was moving to Nigeria, people discouraged me. They said things like: “There is nothing to do, and I won’t enjoy it.” Surprisingly, I find it very calm here, because I know very few people here, and all I do is make music. Every day, I spend a lot of time calmly making and building music, which is what I do best, and it’s bringing out the best, and most creative version of me. So whenever I’m in Nigeria, I’m a bit more rested, there is a bit more discipline and I think my dreams are becoming bigger here.

Tell us about your other Afrobeats fusion, Koka.

We did the song for my Indian record label. In India, when you get married or want to get married, the women pierce their nose and wear a nose ring for their wedding. It’s like a traditional thing to do from back in the day.

So the girl in the song is telling the boy that I really want to pierce my nose and wear that little ring, please make that happen. That’s what it meant. And then I loved Ria Sean’s feature on the song. It was a song more for India, although it was a fusion.

Where do you spend more of your time?

I do half and half between India and Lagos, because I have a lot of concerts to perform at in India, and then I get back to Lagos.

READ ALSO: Fido’s ‘Joy Is Coming’ hits No.1 on Apple Music

What’s the new vision for your career, with this relocation in focus?

India used to be very Bollywood-centric. Big singers only ever sang for Bollywood movies, which I also did, and they only became famous because of that. But now India is ready and is becoming big with music released separately and the emergence of more independent artists. I feel there’s a huge chance for all of us to become household names just on our own, with experiments.

Here, we are creating a sound. I have a sound of my own already, which people are used to. So, of course, a song with Nigerian beats and a singer is very different for them. And I think gradually, once they hear more, they will start accepting and loving it more.