Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has weighed in on the ongoing debate around the definition of Afrobeats, insisting that the contemporary term does not represent a true musical genre.
Speaking in a recent interview on Beat FM, the son of legendary Fela Kuti explained that what is commonly referred to as Afrobeats is more of a label for popular African music than a distinct genre.
“I think Afrobeats is more of a title than it is a genre. More of a title than a genre. You can see Amapiano. Yes, you can see the new Afrobeats. It is the new title of that. It is the new thing in Afrobeats,” Seun said.
He further elaborated, “So, Afrobeats is just a generalisation, just a title to identify something from a particular place. I do not think it is a genre.”
Seun also noted that Nigerian music executives treat Afrobeats with flexibility, allowing artists creative freedom without confining them to a specific sound.
“Even the gatekeepers, the big names, do not deal with it like a genre. They do not gatekeep it like a genre. They do not work it like a genre. Their artistes are eclectic in the way that they could do a Dancehall track today, do a Blues track tomorrow, do a Nigerian pop song and jump on amapiano,” he added.
Rapper Vector, who appeared on the show alongside Seun, offered a slightly different take. He argued that Afrobeats could become a clearly defined genre if its musical elements were properly documented and analysed, similar to how Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat has been studied.
“Because our musicians do not break down what exactly is going on. I personally believe the Afrobeats narration as a genre cannot be defined. In my head, I still believe there is genius in there somewhere,” Vector said.
He added, “The way I would analyse Fela’s music is that it was properly documented. If it is done properly now, we might be able to find a definition as a sound that retains its original idea, even though it has a different approach.”
