Omah Lay has voiced his concerns about the state of the afrobeats genre, lamenting its dilution to cater to foreign audiences and its increasing commercialization.
In an interview with the Zach Sang Show, he expressed worry that the genre was no longer in safe hands due to the overwhelming focus on money rather than passion.
“There is too much money in Afrobeats. Afrobeats artists are just trying to grab the money,” he said.
“I believe people are messing Afrobeats up. I also believe it is becoming very commercial. Right now, I don’t believe Afrobeats is in safe hands.”
According to Omah Lay, the abundance of money in afrobeats has led many artists to prioritize financial gain over artistic integrity, resulting in the genre’s commercialization.
This is a sentiment echoed by Jamaican reggae artist Buju Banton, who criticized afrobeats for lacking substance and predicted its eventual decline.
The criticisms from these prominent artists bring to light the ongoing debate surrounding afrobeats and its evolving identity in the global music scene.
