Yemi Alade has criticized her colleagues who undermine Afrobeats, labelling them as hypocrites.
She believes that if these musicians are going to denounce Afrobeats, they should at least specify the genre that truly represents their musical identity.
Yemi Alade also reminded them to at least acknowledge the significant role that Afrobeats has played in their artistic growth before making offensive comments about Afrobeats.
Through her Twitter account (X), Yemi Alade emphasized that it is hypocritical for these artists to downplay the genre, even if they feel that it doesn’t define their art.
Yemi wrote: “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.
“Just Announce your Genre in peace. Downplaying the role Afrobeats has played in every artist’s development is hypocrisy.”
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.
Just Announce your Genre in peace. Downplaying the role Afrobeats has played in every artist's development is hypocrisy.— ✊🏾 yemialade (@yemialadee) May 1, 2024
Nigerian artistes dissociate themselves from Afrobeats
Yemi Alade’s reaction is based on statements made by Nigerian musicians such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Fireboy DML, who criticized Afrobeats.
For example, Burna Boy’s comment about the lack of substance in Afrobeats sparked a lasting controversy in the music industry.
In his words; “Because of where I am from. The sh*t I have to go through to manoeuvre and just stay with my crown on my head. (It is harder for people that know you best to love you the most). Because they do not know you best.
You just think they do. “When you start going around the world and you start seeing that there are actually motherf**kers that know me a lot than the people that share the same (not experience)… because 90 per cent of them [Nigerian musicians] have no real life experiences which is why most of Nigerian music or African music or afrobeats as people call it, is mostly about nothing, literally nothing. “
It is why you hear most of Nigerian music or Afrobeats as people call it, is mostly about nothing.
Literally nothing. There is no substance to it. Like nobody is talking about anything.
It is just a great time. It is an amazing time. But at the end of the day, life is not an amazing time.
“No matter how nice of a time you are having now or you are had at some point or you plan to have, you are still going to face life.
Me speaking for myself, the artiste is the person who has good days, bad days, great days, and worst days. “So, for me, I feel like music should be the essence of the artiste.
The artiste is a person who has good day, bad day, his great days and worst days.
So, I’m dropping a project that should be a window for the fans to see those experiences.”