Bola Afolabi
Grammy-winning singer has proved very smart in her new assessment of afrobeats.
She had ruled out playing the now globally popular genre as she clings to R&B.
But, proving smart and arguably patriotic, she has defended afrobeats in the face of a biting criticism by Jamaican reggae legend, Buju Banton, who dismissed it as lacking substance.
Banton compared afrobeats to reggae and concluded it would soon fade away.
But reacting in a recent episode of the ‘Shopping the Sneakers’ podcast, Tems said it was of no use compare both musical brands, saying afrobeats was serving its purpose of ‘escapism’.
She explained that afrobeats in Nigeria escape the harsh reality of life, providing a much-needed break from societal challenges.
She acknowledged the differences between reggae and afrobeats, emphasising that each genre has its unique purpose and value.
“That’s how I want my music to feel all the time, and Afrobeats wasn’t necessarily giving me that type of stimulation. Everyone I asked for advice was like, ‘The only way you can do this is Afrobeats. It’s not that your music is bad, it’s just that it doesn’t fit in Nigeria. Nigerians don’t like this’.”
“And that’s not a lie, and it’s not a bad thing. But I felt in my heart that that’s okay. I’m okay with no one liking it, I just want to make this music. I want to make music that makes me pull my heart out, and if I can’t do that, I don’t want anything. I would rather do that and be broke than compromise.
Tems also stated that she cared less about money and was more particular about chasing a frequency.
“I didn’t really care about the money. It’s not that money is bad. Money is very good. But for me, even right now, I’m chasing a frequency. There’s artists I’ve loved all my life, that when they reach a certain stage, the music loses that frequency, it loses that touch they had. And I always wondered why. Why do I have to lose that touch? I don’t actually care where I end up. If I’m under a bridge and I have a way to make music, I’m going to be good.
“That’s what led me to meet the people that connected to that music. There was no indication that I would’ve ended up here. Nobody could have told me I would be sitting here in London speaking to you, Kendrick Lamar. “
