Afrobeats is gaining worldwide appeal, with Nigerian performers racking up billions of streams, winning big accolades, and collaborating with international artists.
Spice, a Jamaican dancehall musician, recently expressed her enthusiasm for Afrobeats in an interview with Nigerian broadcaster Daddy Freeze, revealing that she is also a fan of Grammy winner Burna Boy.
Spice remarked that in Afrobeats, singers like 2Baba and Falz make important music.
Afrobeats is gaining worldwide appeal, with Nigerian performers racking up billions of streams, winning big accolades, and collaborating with international artists.
Spice, a Jamaican dancehall musician, recently expressed her enthusiasm for Afrobeats in an interview with Nigerian broadcaster Daddy Freeze, revealing that she is also a fan of Grammy winner Burna Boy.
“I don’t think Afrobeats is f**ckery. It’s kind of absurd to say that,” Spice said in responds to a recent criticism of Afrobeats by Jamaican artist Buju Banton. “I am a fan of Afrobeats and I love the genre. I don’t think it’s right to say they don’t make cultural music,” she adds.
Spice remarked that in Afrobeats, singers like 2Baba and Falz make important music. She also mentioned that in Jamaica, some reggae singers focus on serious issues, whilst dancehall artists create entertaining, party music.
Spice recognised that, while she is the Queen of Dancehall, Afrobeats is now the most popular genre.
Her words came after Buju Banton criticised Afrobeats for failing to depict Africans’ genuine experiences.
According to Buju Banton, while Afrobeats is gaining popularity around the world, it fails to address or highlight Africa’s challenges in the same way that previous African musicians’ music has.
He cited Fela Kuti, Salif Keita, and Youssou N’dour as prominent figures whose music had a big social and political impact, despite their genres being distinct from mainstream Afrobeats.
In an interview with the Drinking Champ Podcast, Buju Banton noted that Nigerian performers rarely collaborate with Caribbean artists, despite the fact that Afrobeats is largely influenced by Dancehall and Reggae.