Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has taken to her social media platform to criticize fellow artists who downplay the significance of the Afrobeats genre.
In a passionate post, the “Johnny” crooner addressed what she perceives as hypocrisy among musicians who disassociate themselves from Afrobeats despite benefiting from its influence.
Alade acknowledged that it’s acceptable for artists to distance themselves from Afrobeats if they feel it doesn’t fully represent their musical style.
However, she emphasized that it’s disingenuous for them to undermine the genre’s role in shaping the Nigerian music landscape.
“I don’t see anything wrong in informing your listeners of the genre of music an artist makes, especially when you feel it doesn’t define your art,”
Alade wrote on her social media handle. “Just announce your genre in peace. Downplaying the role Afrobeats has played in every artist’s development is hypocrisy.”
Her remarks come in response to recent statements from prominent Nigerian artists like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy, who have distanced themselves from the Afrobeats label.
These artists have expressed frustration with being pigeonholed into the Afrobeats category, arguing that it oversimplifies the diversity of African music styles.
However, Alade’s assertion highlights the broader impact of Afrobeats on the global music scene and its integral role in shaping the careers of Nigerian musicians.
Despite the genre’s evolving definition and the emergence of new musical influences, Afrobeats remains a cornerstone of Nigerian musical identity.
Alade’s social media outburst underscores the ongoing debate within the music industry about the nuances of genre classification and artistic identity.
