Everyone has had the problem of needing a smooth, bass-heavy Afrobeat instrumental and not having one to hand. Downloading random beats from YouTube and using them in commercial projects can quickly lead to a copyright strike, muted audio, or even a lawsuit. If you want to get it right and monetize your content safely, you should avoid this risky approach. The solution is to use royalty-free instrumentals from reputable audio databases, which are best of all: completely free.
Databases offering CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license-free music are highly valuable for content creators and indie artists. For this reason, we have written a detailed guide explaining what these licenses mean and how to stay protected. Here are 20 websites for royalty-free Afrobeat instrumentals – with no copyright issues and free of charge legally.
Table of Contents
- Please read before using free instrumentals
- Quick Comparison Table
- 1. Pixabay Music (Editors Choice #1)
- 2. YouTube Audio Library (Editors Choice #2)
- 3. Free Music Archive (FMA)
- 4. Chosic
- 5. Looperman
- 6. Mixkit
- 7. Uppbeat
- 8. SoundCloud (Creative Commons)
- 9. BeatStars (Free CC Section)
- 10. Bensound
- 11. Audionautix
- 12. Tunetank
- 13. Jamendo Music
- 14. Slip.stream
- 15. Tribe of Noise
- 16. Audiomack (Free Downloads)
- 17. Videvo Audio
- 18. FreePD
- 19. Musopen (World Rhythms)
- 20. Incompetech
- Guide: Using YouTube Search for Beats (without risk)
- Our Favorites
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please read before using free instrumentals
It is important for everyone, but especially businesses, artists, and YouTubers, to be careful when using free audio they find on the internet. Just because a beat is freely available does not mean that it can be used without restriction. Many instrumentals are copyrighted and require explicit permission or a lease agreement from the producer to be used commercially.
Before using a free Afrobeat instrumental, check the license terms to understand any restrictions or usage requirements. Some licenses allow tracks to be used for non-commercial purposes only (like a personal vlog or school project), while others may require attribution (giving credit to the producer in your description) or the payment of royalties once a certain stream count is hit. Failure to comply with the license terms may result in your video being taken down, your channel receiving a strike, or legal action.
To avoid potential legal problems, it is strictly advisable to use music with Creative Commons (best use CC0) or Public Domain licenses. These types of licenses usually allow the use of audio without permission or payment of fees, as long as the terms of the license are followed. Therefore, carefully check the terms of use for free beats and ensure you are using instrumentals under an appropriate license to avoid potential legal consequences.
Quick Comparison Table
If you are in a rush, use this detailed scrollable comparison table to find the platform that best fits your immediate Afrobeat production or content creation needs.
| Platform | Library Size | Attribution Required | Commercial Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Pixabay Music | Huge | No (Optional) | Yes | Vloggers, Podcasters, General Creators |
| 2. YouTube Audio Library | Massive | Varies (Check Icon) | Yes (On YouTube) | YouTube Content Creators |
| 3. FMA | Large | Yes (Usually CC-BY) | Depends on CC type | Filmmakers, Indie Projects |
| 4. Looperman | Massive | Varies | Yes | Music Producers, Beatmakers |
| 5. Chosic | Medium | Yes | Yes | Background Music Seekers |
1. Pixabay Music (Editors Choice #1)
According to Pixabay, they host thousands of royalty-free music tracks that you can do practically anything with, as they are completely free for personal and commercial projects. The Afrobeat instrumentals on this platform are really high quality, featuring authentic shakers, deep basslines, and syncopated drum patterns characteristic of West African music. The database of royalty-free music is also nicely sorted; you can filter by genre, mood, and BPM to help you find the right track quickly.
Especially at Pixabay, the selection of really high-quality backing tracks is excellent and has made it to our personal favorites, which we use regularly for video backgrounds and intro music.
Read the full license agreement
2. YouTube Audio Library (Editors Choice #2)
This is a great platform offering officially curated royalty-free music directly within the YouTube Studio. The audio library contains a specific subset of African, Dancehall, and Afro-pop beats. While some require attribution (giving credit in your video description), many do not. This means that the instrumentals can be used safely without fear of Content ID claims on your channel. You can use the site's great search function to quickly filter by genre ("Reggae/Dancehall" or "World") and mood to find the beat you need.
Definitely one of the safest platforms for free royalty-free music for creators, but the tracks are used by many people, so you will hear some good beats more often on other channels.
Read the full license agreement
3. Free Music Archive (FMA)
The Free Music Archive gives you access to high-quality free music curated by a network of international broadcasters and podcasters. You can browse through their "International" or "African" sections to uncover hidden Afrobeat gems. The attribution requirements vary depending on the specific Creative Commons license attached to the track, meaning you must read carefully before taking each track to use for commercial and non-commercial use.
A great historical resource with thousands of high-quality indie tracks that brings a highly authentic, less commercialized Afrobeat sound to your projects.
Read the full license agreement
4. Chosic
Chosic gives you access to high-quality, free background music that is heavily categorized for ease of use. You can search specifically for "Afrobeat," "Amapiano," or "African Beats" and the platform will present a curated list of tracks. Most of the music here requires attribution, so you can take any track and use it however you like for commercial or non-commercial purposes, provided you paste the correct credit line in your project description.
Here you can find many upbeat, modern Afro-pop instrumentals that you can use for free, making it incredibly worthwhile to search this database.
Read the full license agreement
5. Looperman
The instrumental loops and acapellas on the site come from a massive pool of global producers who contribute free, royalty-free audio from their personal libraries. If you are an artist or producer looking to build your own Afrobeat track, Looperman offers thousands of free drum loops, log drum patterns (Amapiano), and guitar melodies. The aim is to provide really good, raw stems that you can piece together in your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
Great project for really great sounds from amateurs but also professionals, which can accompany you for some creative musical projects guaranteed.
Read the full license agreement
6. Mixkit
Mixkit's motto of providing extraordinary free assets for creators is a very good one. Powered by Envato, you could spend hours scrolling through the great shots and viewing the hand-picked masterpieces of royalty-free audio. Their world music and acoustic sections contain highly polished Afrobeat instrumental tracks. Definitely worth a few clicks as you will find professionally mixed and mastered instrumentals that are not available anywhere else for free.
Mixkit is a little insider tip for royalty-free music that sounds incredibly premium, otherwise expensive to pay for on standard stock sites.
Read the full license agreement
7. Uppbeat
Uppbeat has a great selection of modern, trendy beats designed specifically for vloggers and social media creators. If you need upbeat, modern Afrobeats akin to Burna Boy or Wizkid vibes, you should definitely bookmark this platform. Please note that users on the free tier get a limited number of downloads per month and must use the provided Uppbeat credit link to avoid copyright claims.
Really great platform which is specialized in high-retention, engaging background music. Please read here exactly the audio rights, because the free tier has strict attribution rules.
Read the full license agreement
8. SoundCloud (Creative Commons)
A really huge database of independent music which can be filtered to show tracks available under Creative Commons. By searching "Afrobeat instrumental" and modifying the search filter to "To listen to and use commercially," you unlock a vast world of up-and-coming producers offering their beats for free. SoundCloud offers raw, authentic royalty-free beats, allowing you to use it anywhere without problems, provided you adhere to the producer's CC terms.
SoundCloud should be a favorite with anyone who is often looking for underground, authentic Afrobeat and Amapiano stock music.
Read the full license agreement
9. BeatStars (Free CC Section)
For larger musical projects like mixtapes or EP releases, you can find everything here. While BeatStars is primarily a paid marketplace, thousands of producers offer a "Free Download" option for non-profit use. By filtering the Afrobeat genre and selecting free tracks, you gain access to premium industry-standard instrumentals. Be very careful to check if the free download allows commercial use or just personal/audition use.
A massive beat database with over millions of instrumentals. Here you can download a huge selection of high-quality Afrobeat tracks directly from the producers.
Read the full license agreement
10. Bensound
As the name is well known in the content creation space, this site is heavily relied upon by start-ups and YouTubers. Bensound features a dedicated "World" music section where you can discover African-inspired rhythms and royalty-free Afrobeat instrumentals. The tracks are specially designed to showcase content seamlessly without overpowering the vocals, so you can look professional without having to spend a lot of money on custom scoring.
For all those who need corporate-friendly or vlog-friendly Afrobeat backing tracks to place on their website or presentation.
Read the full license agreement
11. Audionautix
Beautiful and unique stock music entirely produced by Jason Shaw. All music in this online collection is completely free to download and use (even for commercial purposes) as long as you provide credit. While the library is smaller, the "Ethnic" and "Reggae/Dancehall" sections contain great, raw percussive tracks. You are sure to find something special here.
The royalty-free tracks of Audionautix are definitely something special and stand out well from other heavily-produced commercial sites.
Read the full license agreement
12. Tunetank
Started as a smaller project to help creators avoid copyright claims, this royalty-free music platform already has a considerable collection of stock tracks. Several hundreds of high-quality tracks are included in the collection, featuring a good amount of tropical, dancehall, and Afro-pop fusions. The free tier requires you to whitelist your YouTube channel to clear any claims automatically.
Tunetank is a great database with thousands of tracks. If the music is used, you should ensure your channel is properly linked to avoid automated Content ID issues.
Read the full license agreement
13. Jamendo Music
A huge selection of unique, royalty-free independent music that you can get for personal use for free. Best of all, you can really hear the diverse cultural influences the international artists put into all their instrumentals. With all these beautiful tracks online, searching for "Afrobeat" will yield hundreds of results. Note that Jamendo strictly separates personal listening (free) and commercial licensing (paid), but offers a specific CC hub for free commercial use.
Definitely a tip for royalty-free music that nobody else has discovered yet.
Read the full license agreement
14. Slip.stream
One of the newer massive platforms on the market. The aim is to give creators access to over 100,000 royalty-free tracks. Slip.stream makes many of its own tracks and makes them available for creators to use safely on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. However, some premium tracks are gated. You should easily be able to filter for their incredible Afrobeat and global sounds catalog under the free tier.
On Slip.stream you can find great royalty-free music, which you can download easily. (Pay attention to the license requirements for attribution!)
Read the full license agreement
15. Tribe of Noise
Also a prominent staple for indie creators is Tribe of Noise. All tracks are uploaded by the community and available under various Creative Commons licenses. Great Afro-centric and global music is available. You won't find generic “stock background music” in the wide selection; it feels like real music made by real bands and producers.
Great selection of community-uploaded royalty-free music for private and commercial use, depending on the exact CC license applied.
Read the full license agreement
16. Audiomack (Free Downloads)
Looking for authentic African culture and delicious beats? Audiomack is a massive streaming platform that has a specific filter for "Free Downloads". Many rising producers from Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa upload their Afrobeat and Amapiano instrumentals here for free. While downloading is free, commercial use is usually not explicitly stated as CC0, so it’s best used for non-profit freestyles or personal listening.
Great website for free instrumentals straight from the source of the culture.
Read the full license agreement
17. Videvo Audio
Videvo makes many audio tracks and sound effects available for free use each week. Again, the tracks are high quality, easy to find, and the genre categories are helpful to get to the Afrobeat or World music you want quickly. Look for the tracks marked explicitly with the "Royalty Free" label rather than the Editorial ones.
Videvo has some tracks that you won't find on other royalty-free platforms. If you need more specialized background audio, you should have a look here.
Read the full license agreement
18. FreePD
FreePD says about their royalty-free database that they provide music 100% in the Public Domain (CC0), which allows the instrumentals to be used commercially and personally for all projects without any attribution. There are many quirky and diverse tracks in the database. Finding modern Afrobeat might require some digging into their "World" category, but what you find is entirely restriction-free.
Music database with royalty-free audio with the promise of the easiest license possible (Public Domain).
Read the full license agreement
19. Musopen
Not one of the biggest platforms for modern pop, as it focuses on classical, but there is a selection of traditional world rhythms and educational audio files. Many educational creators utilize the traditional African percussion recordings found here. Musicians can donate their work here and make them available to the public for free.
Smaller, specialized database where traditional instrumentals are made available under Public Domain.
Read the full license agreement
20. Incompetech
Kevin MacLeod’s legendary platform is a staple for content creators. With the handy genre filters, you can find African-inspired percussion and rhythmic tracks that can be used for free in commercial projects. Just ensure you follow the strict CC-BY attribution format required. The tracks are highly versatile and recognizable.
Large, iconic music platform, which provides commercially usable free background beats.
Read the full license agreement
Guide: Using YouTube Search for Beats (without risk)
When using YouTube to find instrumentals for creative projects, it's critical to make sure you are using beats that are genuinely free to use and not stolen properties uploaded by third parties. Use the YouTube search bar to find Afrobeat instrumentals that match your vibe. When you see the videos you want, use the filter option to select 'Creative Commons'. From here, you can choose to only see instrumentals that the uploader has explicitly marked as free to use.
Once you've found the right beat, check the description box meticulously. Many producers state their terms clearly: "Free for non-profit only" or "Must credit in description". Respect the artist's wishes, download the track via authorized means (often a BeatStars link or direct Google Drive link provided by the producer), and use it safely.
7 steps to get free Afrobeat instrumentals safely from YouTube:
- Search "Free Afrobeat Instrumental" in the YouTube search bar.
- Click on the "Filters" option below the search bar.
- Select "Creative Commons" under the Features column.
- Select the instrumental video you like.
- Check the description box for detailed copyright and usage information.
- Click the official download link provided by the producer (avoid unauthorized stream-ripping sites).
- Save the audio and paste the required attribution text into your project.
Please note: Don't use a beat on the internet without first checking that you have the right to do so. Even if a track is licensed under a Creative Commons license, there may still be restrictions. For example, some licenses explicitly prohibit commercial monetization. So make sure you read the small print before exporting your final video!
Our ComfortSkillz Favorites
Pixabay & YouTube Audio Library
You might also want to know what we like and use most. Our editorial team likes to use Pixabay Music or the official YouTube Audio Library for the beautiful, high-quality background audio we use in our video content. With limited budgets, we are happy to find such incredible Afrobeat stock music to make our productions sound energetic and culturally rich for our audience, but we have to respect the licenses and rights of the music producers. That's why both platforms offer a great opportunity, as they can be used commercially without fear, so we don't have to worry about our audio choices triggering copyright claims.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between royalty-free and copyright-free?
Royalty-free means you do not have to pay a recurring royalty fee every time the track is played or your video is viewed; you pay once (or it's free) and get a license to use it. The creator still owns the copyright. Copyright-free (or Public Domain/CC0) means no one claims exclusive ownership of the track's usage rights, allowing you ultimate freedom.
Can I use free Afrobeat instrumentals on Spotify or Apple Music?
If you intend to record vocals over a free beat and distribute it as an official song on digital streaming platforms (DSPs) like Spotify, you almost always need to purchase a basic or exclusive lease from the producer. "Free" tags on sites like BeatStars or YouTube usually only apply to non-profit evaluation, YouTube vlogs, or Soundcloud releases. Always review the full license agreement to be certain.
What makes an Afrobeat instrumental?
Afrobeat (and its modern derivative, Afrobeats) is characterized by complex, intersecting rhythms, heavy reliance on percussion instruments (shakers, congas, talking drums), vibrant melodic loops, and often a tempo ranging from 95 to 115 BPM. The genre fuses West African musical styles like highlife with American funk, jazz, and dancehall influences.
What happens if I get a copyright claim on YouTube?
If you use an instrumental without the proper rights and it triggers YouTube's Content ID system, the copyright holder may choose to mute your video, track its statistics, or place ads on your video to monetize it for themselves. In severe cases, they can issue a manual DMCA takedown, resulting in a copyright strike on your channel. Sticking to the trusted sites listed above prevents this headache.
Written by Ahmad Zaid
Expert Tech Copywriter & SEO Strategist
Specializing in digital transformation and the intersection of technology and creative media. With over 6 years of experience in the tech sector, Ahmad focuses on delivering neutral, data-driven insights that help creators and entrepreneurs navigate complex digital landscapes without the "marketing fluff."
