Seun Kuti Says “Afrobeats” Is a Label, Not a Genre
In a thought-provoking interview on The Beat 99.9 FM, Nigerian musician Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, challenged the common classification of “Afrobeats” as a distinct musical genre, calling it instead more of a label or umbrella term for African music.
Speaking with The Nation Newspaper, Kuti expressed skepticism about the idea of Afrobeats being a fixed genre. “I think Afrobeats is more of a title than a genre,” he asserted, explaining that the term serves as a broad identifier for African music rather than one with strictly defined stylistic boundaries.
Kuti highlighted the eclectic nature of artists typically grouped under the Afrobeats banner. He argued that many musicians and industry players don’t treat it as a genre, instead, artists freely weave between styles such as dancehall, Nigerian pop, or Amapiano, following whatever sound is currently trending. “They could do a dancehall track today, do a blues track tomorrow, do a Nigerian pop sound, jump on Amapiano… So, I think it’s actually a title,” he elaborated.
Broader Context: What Is Afrobeats Anyway?
While Kuti’s remarks sparked conversation, they echo a broader debate around what “Afrobeats” really means. The term, coined to differentiate modern African pop from the Afrobeat pioneered by Fela Kuti, is often used as a catch-all category for contemporary sounds from West Africa, blending R&B, hip-hop, highlife, juju, dancehall, and other influences.
Fela’s original Afrobeat was a tightly structured genre rooted in Yoruba rhythms, funk, jazz, and social commentary, a far more specific style than today’s broadly labeled Afrobeats.