Seun Kuti Declares: “Afrobeats Is Just a Label, Not a Defined Genre”
Nigerian singer and saxophonist Seun Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has once again set the music scene buzzing with his latest hot take. The outspoken Afrobeat star stated that “Afrobeats is a label, not a defined genre.”
According to Seun Kuti, the term “Afrobeats” has become a catch-all description for various styles of contemporary African music, but it lacks the depth, structure, and cultural foundation that make a genre truly distinct. He argued that while African artists are achieving global recognition, the industry should not confuse commercial branding with the originality and depth of true Afrobeat pioneered by his father.
His comment has since triggered mixed reactions. Some fans believe Seun is gatekeeping by constantly comparing Afrobeat to Afrobeats, while others agree that the modern sound has been heavily influenced by Western pop and lacks the strong political and cultural roots of the original Afrobeat movement.
The debate continues to trend across social media platforms, with music lovers, critics, and fellow artists weighing in on whether Afrobeats should be celebrated as a standalone genre or simply recognized as a label for Africa’s evolving sound.
