- Tems, a Grammy winning Nigerian singer has explained afrobeats as a genre designed for escapism.
- The genre in Nigeria according to the singer aims to provide an escape from the harsh reality, rather than preaching against societal ills.
- In a recent episode of the ‘Shopping The Sneakers’ podcast, the ‘Love Me Jeje’ crooner responded to Jamaican reggae legend Buju Banton’s criticism of afrobeats.
Temilade Openiyi, the Grammy-winning Nigerian artiste better known as Tems, has articulated her perspective on afrobeats, describing it as a genre designed primarily for escapism.
According to Tems, the purpose of the genre particularly in Nigeria is to serve as an escape from the harsh reality and not necessarily to preach against societal ills.
The ‘Love Me Jeje’ crooner stated this while reacting to Jamaican reggae legend Buju Banton’s criticism of afrobeats in a recent episode of the ‘Shopping The Sneakers’ podcast.
In reaction to his statements, Tems acknowledged the reggae icon’s perspective but emphasized that Afrobeats serves a different purpose.
Buju Banton claimed that Afrobeats had no substance and would fade with time. Tems said;
“I understand where Buju Banton is coming from. Reggae is not afrobeats and afrobeats in Nigeria is specifically for escapism; that’s the purpose of afrobeats.”
In other news, Nigerian singer, Fireboy DML has opened up on another project he is working on.
The “Friday Feeling” crooner made this known during an interview with The Beat 99.9 FM, Lagos.
With his fans clamoring for more following his single with veteran singer, Lagbaja, the afrobeats star spoke on working with Lojay.
The afrobeats singer, Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan, known professionally as Fireboy DML announced that he is currently working on a joint Extended Play (EP) with his colleague, Lekan Osifeso Jnr., who is popularly known as Lojay.