Grammy-winning Nigerian artist, Wizkid has offered an explanation regarding his announcement about leaving Afrobeats.
Recall that the artist recently sparked a major controversy by his statement which implies departure from Afrobeats. This move stirred intense debate and criticism within the music community, prompting Wizkid to offer clarifications regarding his stance.
Addressing the issue head-on, Wizkid elucidated that his decision to distance himself from the Afrobeats categorization stemmed from his diverse musical repertoire. He emphasized that he creates “all sorts of music” that transcends the boundaries imposed by genre labels.
In his Instagram story, Wizkid articulated his perspective, stating, “I don’t want these labeled just afrobeats. That’s like saying every American artist makes rap. That’s stupid.”
Furthermore, Wizkid lamented the tendency to pigeonhole African artists into narrow categories, limiting their global recognition and relegating them to homogeneous awards categories. He expressed frustration over the prevailing perception that all African music fits neatly within the Afrobeats genre, thereby overlooking the vast spectrum of musical influences and styles present on the continent.
Highlighting the eclectic nature of his latest album, “Made in Lagos,” Wizkid emphasized that it defies easy categorization as an Afrobeats album. Instead, he described it as a fusion of diverse sounds, reflective of his boundary-pushing approach to music production.
Rejecting the notion of being confined to a single genre, Wizkid reaffirmed his identity as an artist first and foremost. He asserted, “I’m an artiste before anything else. True to my art. Not scared to try shit.”
Moreover, Wizkid invoked the legacy of Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti, highlighting the distinction between Afrobeat, a specific musical genre, and the broader umbrella term of Afrobeats.
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Wizkid’s announcement of his departure from Afrobeats came in few hours earlier.
Via his Instagram story, Wizkid announced the completion of his next album while at the same time he was issuing a disclaimer to his fans. He cautioned them against expecting an Afrobeats rendition from him in his upcoming project.
“Album done! See you soon b*tches!” he exclaimed, before delivering a blunt message to those who associate him solely with Afrobeats.
“And abeg if you like Pakurumo Wizkid, don’t download this new album. In fact, delete me from your playlist and your life! If you like Afrobeats, don’t download my album. I’m not a f*cking Afrobeats artiste. I am not Afro anything.”
This statement from the acclaimed musician left many fans and industry insiders scratching their heads, as Wizkid has long been associated with the Afrobeats genre, where he has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in popularizing it on the global stage.
