Nigerian songstress Yemi Alade has voiced her dissatisfaction with fellow artists who undermine the Afrobeats genre. While acknowledging that it's acceptable for artists to distance themselves from Afrobeats if they feel it doesn't align with their artistic vision, she decried the hypocrisy of those who belittle the genre despite its significant contribution to the development of every Nigerian artist.
Taking to her social media platform, the 'Johnny' hitmaker expressed her views, stating, "I don’t see anything wrong with informing your listeners of the genre of music an artist makes, especially when you feel it doesn’t define your art. Just announce your genre in peace. Downplaying the role Afrobeats has played in every artist’s development is hypocrisy."
Alade's outspoken stance comes in response to recent remarks from Nigerian singers such as Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy, who have distanced themselves from the Afrobeats label. They argue that being labeled as Afrobeats artists limits their artistic freedom, as all African musicians are often categorized under the Afrobeats umbrella regardless of their unique musical styles.
