- Bella Shmurda urges Nigerian artists to respect Afrobeats.
- He explained that he has been silent on the issue for a long time because he doesn’t want to be caught in the center of the controversy.
Nigerian singer, Bella Shmurda, has taken a stand against derogatory remarks made by his fellow artists (Wizkid and Burna Boy), about the Afrobeats genre.
Bella believes that it is crucial for artists to respect and honor Afrobeats, as it is a gift from God that should not be downgraded.
In a recent episode of the London 90 podcast, Bella Shmurda acknowledged feeling disheartened after hearing comments from Wizkid and Burna Boy, he highlighted the importance of respecting Afrobeats as a genre, emphasizing that Afrobeats holds immense value and should not be undermined, regardless of an artist’s stature or musical preference.
According to him, the genre is a precious gift from God, and downgrading it is both disrespectful and detrimental to the music industry as a whole.
He said:
“Recently, I heard something, I saw something that made me feel bad. I wanted to tweet but I don’t want to be in a position whereby I have issues with people.
“But for real, We artistes should respect Afrobeats. This is our genre, we can’t downgrade it. No matter your level in the music industry, you can’t downgrade this thing that God has given us.”
Recall that few weeks ago , Wizkid denounced being an Afrobeats artiste.
Wizkid, while announcing his upcoming album, urged caution among Nigerians against pigeonholing him strictly as an Afrobeat artist. He further cautioned bloggers against promoting his forthcoming album.
Wizkid’s stance didn’t end there; he proceeded to issue stern warnings to those who became fans during his earlier “Pakurumo” track phase, advising them against downloading his new album. Moreover, he discouraged Afrobeats enthusiasts from listening to his music.