Nigerian singer Omah Lay has voiced his concerns about the current state of the Afrobeats genre, stating that it is being threatened by commercial interests.
During an appearance on the Zach Sang Show, the singer lamented that Afrobeats is being diluted in a bid to appeal to foreign audiences, leading to a loss of its authenticity.
“There is too much money in Afrobeats. Afrobeats artists are just trying to grab the money,” Omah Lay remarked, highlighting how the lucrative nature of the genre is driving artists to prioritize profit over passion.
He further expressed his worry that Afrobeats is becoming overly commercialized and losing its original essence. “I believe people are messing Afrobeats up. I also believe it is becoming very commercial. Right now, I don’t believe Afrobeats is in safe hands,” he added.
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Omah Lay’s concerns echo a growing sentiment among music critics and artists. Recently, Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton also criticized the genre, describing it as “f*ckery” in a controversial interview. He claimed that Afrobeats lacks substance and predicted that its popularity would fade over time.
As Afrobeats continues to gain global attention, these critiques raise important questions about the direction and future of the genre.
