On a chilly October night, the dimly lit lounge of Rock Steady — a popular Afro-Caribbean restaurant in Midtown — is notably empty. Staffers are preparing for what’s supposed to be a busy night ahead.

T he explosion of Afrobeats has been one of the biggest stories in the music industry over the past five years, with acts like Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, and Tems becoming global superstars. As ...