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Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has offered her perspective on afrobeats, characterizing the genre as one primarily meant for escapism rather than addressing societal issues.
In a recent episode of the “Shopping The Sneakers” podcast, Tems addressed remarks made by Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton, who criticized afrobeats for lacking substance and predicted its eventual decline. Responding to Banton’s critique, Tems explained that the essence of afrobeats in Nigeria is to provide an escape from the often harsh realities of life.
“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,” Tems said.
Her comments highlight the distinct cultural and thematic differences between afrobeats and reggae, emphasizing that while both genres have their unique roles, afrobeats serves a particular purpose within Nigerian society.
