What I Say to Older Artistes Complaining that New Afrobeats Doesn't Have Message - Tems

The new generation of Afrobeats singers have been catching some heat from an older generation of artistes. Legendary reggae singer Buju Banton said about today's Afrobeats:

BUJU BANTON: "When you look at what they’re doing, their music is not freeing Africa. It’s fuckery. Their music needs to free Africa. If I’m all the way in Jamaica and my country and my people fight to free your continent with word, sound and power, and you have the ability now and all you’re singing is fuckery? You don’t sing a song to free Africa now. We desire more from them. You want the money? Go get it, but what’s going to be said about you later on? You didn’t make any impact."

Meanwhile, at home, Rudeboy of the popular duo P-Square said:

RUDEBOY: "Nowadays, I know what's happening in the music industry, music is lasting only three months, four months. It's not fair what you guys are doing to yourselves because in the long run, years to come, it will fade totally. I'm not saying today's music does not have message but I think these days we're focusing on the producers and the sound, the beat. But lyrically, nah. I can tell you that the days of proper good music with message are virtually leaving."

Because of all this criticism, singer Tems who is one of the newer generation of Afrobeats singers was asked about these criticisms and here's what Tems had to say.

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Responding to the accusations that Afrobeats songs of today don't have any message, Tems said:

TEMS: Reggae is not Afrobeats, and Afrobeats in Nigeria is specifically for escapism. It's specifically for dancing. It's specifically for vibes. It's specifically made for that purpose. That is the purpose of Afrobeats.

It's made to bring you alive and just forget about your worries and just enjoy. It's for you to be enjoying and the climate of Nigeria calls for that type of music. That's why Nigerians love that music. And the world has come to love that music. But it doesn't change the purpose of that music. So the purpose remains the same. It has always been for vibes, and I think that's just the clarification.

Afrobeats is not reggae and reggae is not Afrobeats. We can't all make the same type of music. RnB is usually about heartbreak, it's about love. You can't compare RnB to jazz. You can't compare jazz to rock music, or punk rock.

Music is for different purposes. And there is music that is for uplifting people economically and financially and politically. And then there is music that is just for escape. That is just for a good time. It really is all about just understanding what you want out of the music.

What do you think about what Tems said? And what do you think about this discourse? Do you agree with Buju Banton and Rudeboy's takes on the matter? Or do you agree with what Tems is saying? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

That's All.

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