Nigerian artists, regardless of the worldwide success of Afrobeats, and its continued worldwide recognition, are displaying a rising tilt in the direction of new musical territories. In latest occasions, they’ve been seen to denounce the style, declare different genres, or create hybrid genres.
The shift that has occurred is shifting away from the standard sound that has outlined the Nigerian music scene for years. This shift raises a number of questions concerning the causes behind this pattern and the implications it might have on the music business in Nigeria and past.
Nigeria’s music historical past is wealthy and various, drawing from genres like jazz, highlife, jùjú, and reggae. Afrobeats of latest years have performed vital roles in shaping the nation’s musical panorama on a worldwide scale. It was additionally recognised on the 2024 Grammy’s as one of many two genres included in a brand new class.
Afrobeats is most identifiable by its signature driving drumbeat rhythms. These beats are a mix of the sounds from completely different drums and devices, just like the bass guitar and Sakara body drum indigenous to the Yoruba folks, in addition to drums, guitars, horns, shekere, organ keyboards, and different percussion devices.
The style has gained immense reputation globally, with artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Rema, and Davido main the mainstream music scene.
What occurred?
Very not too long ago, about three Nigerian prime artists have denounced Afrobeats, they usually all have given completely different causes for that. Wizkid, thought of one of the profitable artists Nigeria has produced, not too long ago denounced the Afrobeat style in a collection of Instagram posts. Afterward, the artist clarified by saying that he believed that Afrobeats was “was made up by y’all to place all we make into one field.” He went into element about how he believed that Afrobeats, though a sound in itself, doesn’t apply to him as he’s an artist who creates a ‘fusion of sounds’ and would not wish to be categorized underneath a style created as a method of grouping the multifarious vary of music produced by African artists right into a single class.
Fireboy’s stance on the Afrobeats style is just like Wizkid’s sentiments, as he believes that the style, whereas a sound in itself, doesn’t apply to him as an artist who creates a “fusion of sounds” and doesn’t wish to be categorised underneath that style. He says he is an artist from Africa however not essentially an Afrobeat artist as a result of he creates a special sound.
Burna Boy, one other outstanding Nigerian artist, has additionally expressed his views on the shortage of substance in Afrobeats. He believes that 90% of Afrobeat’s music lacks real-life experiences and is usually about “nothing.” This attitude has led to heated criticism from followers and fellow artists, with some arguing that Afrobeats have lifted many individuals out of despair and supplied a way of unity throughout difficult occasions. However that did not matter, as Burna Boy continues to categorise himself as an afro-fusion artist.
Why Nigerian artists are not looking for the tag “Afrobeats Artist”
There are a number of the explanation why Nigerian artists like Wizkid, Fireboy DML, Burna Boy, Chike, and others try to ditch the tag “Afrobeats Artists.”
The first purpose is progress. These artists seem to consider that the tag limits their world alternatives, as their efforts to create different forms of music usually are not appreciated. Of their defence, it retains them in a field, limiting their alternatives to be recognised in different markets the place Afrobeats doesn’t dominate.
Another excuse might be the artists’ egocentric need to create a brand new style of music for themselves. This might merely be as a consequence of their need to go away a legacy, as evidenced by genres akin to Rema’s Afro-Rave or the notorious Afro-fusion, which is basically the identical as afrobeats—a fusion of different African or worldwide sound components with sound components originating in West Africa.
Some music critics consider it is just like what occurred to dancehall, the style. The autumn of the dancehall style has been attributed to varied components, together with a shift in lyrical content material in the direction of themes of violence, in addition to a departure from private experiences in songwriting, very like how Burna Boy claims afrobeats haven’t any substance. This led to a decline in dance corridor’s reputation on the worldwide music scene. The style was left behind because it did not evolve, and even dancehall veteran Beenie Man suggested that “dancehall entertainers ought to squash their beef, soar on the identical rhythm, and unite for the betterment of dancehall.”
In conclusion, the evolving panorama of Nigerian music, notably the motion away from Afrobeats by some outstanding artists like Wizkid, Fireboy, and Burna Boy, displays a shift in the direction of exploring new musical horizons and difficult conventional style boundaries. Whereas Afrobeats has undeniably propelled Nigerian music onto the worldwide stage, artists at the moment are searching for to interrupt free from the constraints of being boxed right into a single style.
The denunciation of Afrobeats by these artists signifies a need for creative freedom, artistic exploration, and a rejection of being confined to a selected style label. This shift mirrors comparable transitions seen in different music genres like dancehall, the place a scarcity of evolution and depth in lyrical content material contributed to its decline in reputation.
As Nigerian musicians proceed to push boundaries, experiment with new sounds, and collaborate throughout genres, one can solely hope that the music business in Nigeria is poised for additional innovation and never destroy.
