By Sulaymon Ruqoya
September 11th, 2024
In a recent interview on The Breakfast Club, Grammy-winning singer Tems addressed Buju Banton’s controversial comments about Afrobeats, in which the Jamaican star criticized the genre for not reflecting the realities of its listeners.
Tems countered Banton’s remarks by explaining that Afrobeats, like other genres, serves a specific purpose for its originator, Nigerians. She noted that Afrobeats is a form of pop music designed to provide enjoyment, similar to pop music from other parts of the world.
“Afrobeats is not Reggae, it’s not Rock; it’s for a certain purpose,” Tems stated. “Thinking about its origin, which is Nigeria, it’s for a certain purpose, and you can join us in its enjoyment.”
Buju Banton had made his critique of Afrobeats during an appearance on the Drinking Champs Podcast, where he argued that the genre’s music does not reflect the reality of its black audience in Africa. He also claimed that Nigerian stars leading the global Afrobeats movement have failed to acknowledge the contributions of Jamaican artists.
Banton’s comments sparked reactions from several artists, including Jamaican Dancehall star Spice, who disagreed with her compatriot. Spice pointed out that many Afrobeats artists, such as Burna Boy and Falz, have produced music with strong sociopolitical messages.
During the interview, Tems also addressed and dismissed rumors that she was pregnant with American rapper Future’s child, calling it an outlandish fabrication by those spreading false news.
Additionally, Tems gave fans a glimpse into her recently released debut LP, Born In The Wild, which features guest appearances from Asake and J Cole.