Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has reignited debate over the nature of Afrobeats, describing it as more of a “label” than a true music genre.
During an interview on The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos, Seun explained that the term “Afrobeats” is often used as a broad tag for African music rather than a distinct sound with clear boundaries.
He noted that most artists under the Afrobeats umbrella don’t treat it like a strict genre, instead blending and experimenting with styles ranging from Nigerian pop to dancehall, amapiano, and even blues, depending on the mood.
“I think Afrobeats is more of a title than a genre,” Seun said. “You can see Amapiano is the new Afrobeats. It’s the new thing in Afrobeats. So, Afrobeats is just a generalisation, a title to identify something from Africa.”
The son of Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti further pointed out that even leading stars don’t approach Afrobeats as a fixed category.
“They could do a dancehall track today, switch to amapiano tomorrow, and then drop a Nigerian pop song. That’s why I don’t think Afrobeats is a genre. It’s just a title,” he added.
His comments have sparked diverse reactions online, with fans split over whether Afrobeats should be seen as a genre or simply a cultural movement showcasing Africa’s wide-ranging sound.