Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has taken to social media to criticize her colleagues who downplay the significance of the Afrobeats genre in the music industry.
In a post shared on her X handle, the renowned ‘Johnny’ crooner expressed her views on artists who choose to distance themselves from the Afrobeats label.
While acknowledging that it’s acceptable for artists to inform their audience about their specific genre, Alade condemned any attempt to diminish the role of Afrobeats in the development of Nigerian artists.
“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.
“Just Announce your Genre in peace. Downplaying the role Afrobeats has played in every artist’s development is hypocrisy.”
Alade’s remarks come amidst a recent trend where some Nigerian musicians, including Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy, have distanced themselves from the Afrobeats genre.
These artists argue that being labeled as Afrobeats musicians doesn’t accurately represent their diverse musical styles.
