Nigeria Seun Kuti Challenges Mainstream Narrative: “Afrobeats Is a Title, Not a Genre”

The Digest:

Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has stirred discourse by asserting that Afrobeats functions more as a regional “title” than a distinct musical genre. In a recent radio interview, he argued that its fluidity and lack of stylistic consistency differentiate it from traditional genre classifications.

Key Points:

• Kuti claims Afrobeats is a broad label for popular music originating from Africa
• He notes that artists frequently blend dancehall, blues, pop, and Amapiano into their work
• The term lacks the stylistic constraints typically associated with a genre
• Gatekeepers and major artists treat it as a marketing tag rather than a musical form
• He contrasts it with his father’s Afrobeat, which has defined rhythmic and ideological foundations
• Kuti suggests Amapiano is now the “new Afrobeats”—the latest trending sound under the umbrella
• His comments challenge industry conventions and invite reflection on cultural categorization

Kuti’s perspective highlights the tension between commercial branding and artistic authenticity in Africa’s rapidly globalizing music landscape.

Sources: The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos, Daily Post Nigeria