Jamaican dancehall legend Buju Banton has sparked a conversation by accusing the Afrobeats genre of borrowing from Dancehall without paying proper respect to its roots.
In a recent interview on the Drinking Champs Podcast, Banton expressed his views on the global rise of Afrobeats, which he believes lacks the depth and sociopolitical impact of older African music.
According to Banton, Afrobeats may be enjoying international success, with Nigerian artists winning awards and collaborating with global stars, but the music fails to reflect the struggles of the African continent. “The music doesn’t edify or connect with the plight of its audience,” Banton said, drawing a comparison to the works of African legends like Fela Kuti, Salif Keita, and Youssou N’dour, who used their music to address social and political issues.
Banton also took issue with what he sees as Afrobeats’ disregard for its Caribbean influences. He pointed out that while Afrobeats and Latin American Reggaeton have roots in Reggae and Dancehall, these genres do not give sufficient credit to their Jamaican origins. “Despite finding inspiration from Dancehall and Reggae, Afrobeats stars are not featuring Jamaican artists but rather collaborating with artists from other continents,” Banton criticized.
His remarks have generated mixed reactions on social media, with some observers dismissing his claims as unfounded. Many have countered that Afrobeats artists do incorporate conscious themes in their music and collaborate with Jamaican counterparts.
