Jamaican reggae legend Buju Banton has taken aim at Afrobeats, claiming it lacks depth and fails to address critical issues despite its soaring popularity.
Speaking during his appearance on a recent episode of the popular US podcast Drink Champs, the singer argued that despite its global success, the genre fails to address pressing socio-political issues or uplift the African people, stressing the need for music that has a meaningful impact.
“When you look at what they’re doing, their music is not freeing Africa. It’s fkery… their music needs to free Africa. If I’m all the way in Jamaica and my country and my people fight to free your continent with word, sound and power, and you have the ability now and all you’re singing is fckery?” he said.
You don’t sing a song to free Africa now… we desire more from them. You want the money? Go get it, but what’s going to be said about you later on? You didn’t make any impact.”
To buttress his point, Banton singled out Kenya, amongst some other African countries, which he noted had been undergoing various political upheavals and needed unifying music at such critical moments.
“Tell me one Afrobeats song that can uplift us. Kenya is suffering. The young men of Kenya are revolting… Sudan, South Sudan, you name it. But which one of these songs can I relate to for peace of mind; to tell me that I’m in the struggle and we are going to be better in the struggle, and even though the struggle is hard, we’re going to overcome,” he said.
Banton also addressed the relationship between Afrobeats and reggae, noting that while Afrobeats is an African genre, it bears influences from various musical traditions, including reggae.
