Afrobeats and the Risk of Late Adolescents Substance Abuse in Ikere Ekiti

Adolescents are notable for drug abuse which necessitate this study to explore afrobeats and the risk of late adolescents' substance abuse in Ikere Ekiti by examining afrobeats music influence on the attitudes and behaviours of late adolescents in Ikere Ekiti towards substance use, investigating Afrobeats music inducing substance abuse among late adolescents in Ikere Ekiti and examining the social and cultural factors within the Ikere Ekiti community shaping adolescents" responses to Afrobeats' music and substance use. The theoretical framework for the study draws the propositions of sociological and psychological theories and adopts explorative-descriptive and cross-sectional research design. Convenience sampling technique was used to select late adolescents to reach a sample size of 300 in from the three quarters that make up Ikere Ekiti. A quantitative method of data collection was used to collect data and retrieved data were analysed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings revealed that while Afrobeats is not universally seen as a direct promoter of substance abuse, the music does contribute to shaping attitudes toward substances, especially through the influence of lyrics, artists, and social circles. The study also highlighted that emotional responses to Afrobeats music, such as excitement, inspiration, and relaxation, were common, but these feelings did not necessarily translate into increased substance use. However, social and cultural factors within the Ikere Ekiti community, such as peer pressure, social media exposure, and the influence of local trends and festivals, played significant roles in shaping adolescents' preferences for Afrobeats music and their attitudes toward substances It is therefore suggested that there is a need for community and educational interventions to address the potential negative impacts of Afrobeats music while also promoting its positive cultural and emotional aspects. Keywords: Afrobeats, late adolescents, substance abuse, Ikere Ekiti Wordcounts: 283