Veteran reggae artiste Buju Banton has sparked controversy with his latest comments on the Afrobeats genre, accusing it of cultural appropriation and lack of substance.
In a recent interview, Banton criticized Afrobeats artistes for not giving enough credit to Jamaican reggae and dancehall music, which he claims has been a significant influence on the genre. He also stated that Afrobeats music lacks soul and is comprised of “rubbish” lyrics that fail to address meaningful issues.
“Afrobeats artistes are singing rubbish, nobody is singing music with substance like ‘Free Africa’,” Banton said, referencing his own song that advocates for African liberation.