Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage has refuted suggestions that Afrobeats is currently experiencing its lowest point in twenty years.
Several top music executives, including Paul Okoye (popularly known as Paulo) and DJ Big N, had recently argued in interviews and social media posts that the genre’s global influence was waning.
Speaking, however, at the Unstoppable Africans event, Tiwa Savage countered their claims, insisting that Afrobeats continues to thrive both on global charts and international tours.
According to her, rather than fading, the genre is expanding its reach and cultural impact across the world. She also reflected on her personal journey, sharing how Afrobeats has reshaped the global perception of Africa and Africans.
“I remember growing up in London and I was not happy being African. But now I’m so proud because of how big Afrobeats is growing,” she said.
Savage emphasized that Afrobeats has reached remarkable heights despite the absence of strong industry structures or institutional support.
“Afrobeats is the fastest growing genre in the world. We kind of created it with nothing; no support, no infrastructure, no real belief even from our own people initially,” she explained.
The singer added that predictions about the genre being a passing trend have proven wrong, as African artists continue to dominate stages and charts worldwide.
“There was a conversation at one point that Afrobeats is going to have its 15 minutes of fame and then fades away. But we are still here. We are not slowing down. In fact, we are filling out stadiums, and we are getting the biggest songs on the charts right now,” she stated.
Highlighting the continent’s growing influence, Tiwa concluded, “I don’t know how true this is, but apparently one in every four black persons is a Nigerian or an African. So, we are not going anywhere. As much as they are trying to quiet us down, the music is not going anywhere. We are Africans and we are unstoppable.”
