Nigerian music superstar Davido has joined a growing chorus of voices within the African music industry denouncing the labeling of artists under the umbrella term "Afrobeats." In a candid conversation on the latest edition of the Business Untitled Podcast, the acclaimed 'OBO' crooner expressed frustration over what he perceives as the oversimplification and homogenization of diverse musical styles from the continent.
Davido lamented the tendency to categorize all African artists under the Afrobeats genre, regardless of their individual musical styles or influences. He highlighted the historical context of African music's reception abroad, noting that the UK played a pivotal role in popularizing African sounds before the United States followed suit.
"The first place that accepted African music outside Africa is the UK before America later joined. The UK termed African music Afrobeats," Davido explained, shedding light on the origins of the genre label.
He went on to critique the broad application of the term "Afrobeats," arguing that it fails to accurately capture the diversity and richness of African musical expression. Davido pointed out that while Afrobeat, pioneered by Fela Kuti, represents a specific genre with its own distinct characteristics, contemporary African artists are often lumped together under the Afrobeats umbrella regardless of their individual genres or styles.
"If an African artiste sings pure R&B, sounding like SZA, Summer Walker, they put them under Afrobeats. If an African rapper rapping like Drake, they still put them under Afrobeats," Davido remarked, highlighting the arbitrary nature of genre classification in the global music industry.
Despite his reservations about being labeled as an Afrobeats artist, Davido acknowledged the need for genre distinctions and classifications in music. He emphasized the importance of accurately representing the diverse array of musical styles emerging from the African continent, suggesting that alternative genre labels such as R&B or Afropop could better capture the essence of certain artists' sounds.
"I don't get offended when we've been categorized as Afrobeats. I mean, we need a genre. It could be R&B or Afropop. I call my music Afrofusion but I'm not big on 'O put Afrofusion on my song.' I know how long it took for African music to become mainstream," Davido concluded, underscoring his desire for authenticity and artistic integrity in the classification of African music.
Davido's comments echo sentiments expressed by other prominent Nigerian artists, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Fireboy, who have similarly spoken out against the oversimplification of African music into a single genre label. As African artists continue to make waves on the global stage, there is a growing recognition of the need to embrace the diversity and complexity of the continent's musical landscape.
Davido's critique of the Afrobeats label reflects a broader conversation within the African music industry about representation, identity, and artistic autonomy. By challenging the status quo and advocating for more nuanced genre classifications, Davido and his peers are shaping the future of African music and asserting their rightful place on the world stage.
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