Nigerian singer and Afrobeat torchbearer Seun Kuti has expressed his view that “Afrobeats” should not be considered a distinct genre of music. Speaking in a recent interview on The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos, Kuti explained that Afrobeats is more of a title or label used to describe music coming from Africa rather than having a consistent sound or defining characteristics.
Kuti argued, “I think Afrobeats is more of a title than a genre. You can see Amapiano is the new Afrobeats. It’s the new title, it’s the new thing in Afrobeats. So, Afrobeats is just a generalisation; it’s just a title to identify something from a particular place [Africa].”
He noted that many artists tagged as Afrobeats musicians produce eclectic music, ranging across dancehall, Nigerian pop, Amapiano, and other trending styles. According to him, even the industry gatekeepers and top artists do not handle Afrobeats as a unified genre but rather as a flexible concept that encompasses diverse sounds.
Seun Kuti’s comments have sparked discussions among fans and industry insiders, with some agreeing that Afrobeats is more of a market-friendly label while others defend it as a vibrant creative genre representing African musical fusion.
Kuti emphasized that for Afrobeats to be recognized as a true genre, it needs clearer musical definitions, but currently it acts more as an umbrella term capturing the evolving African soundscape.
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