Jamaican dancehall and raggae artist Buju Banton has called out Afrobeats artists for failing to use their music to address societal issues.
Speaking during an interview with the realnoriega of Drink Champs, Buju Banton said that afrobeat songs don’t resonate with many, and the artists are only interested in making money rather than releasing music that can be used to uplift souls, especially during these trying times when the economy is hitting hard and some countries in Africa like Kenya and South Africa are revolting.
“Tell me one Afrobeats song that can uplift us. Kenya is suffering, young men are revolting, and South Africa is… which one of these songs can I relate to that is going to encourage me and relate to it that someday it will be okay? ” Buju Banton posed a question.
According to Buju Banton, the artists are using their abilities to do the complete opposite of what is expected of them; instead of singing songs to free Africa, they are doing it to just fill their pockets.
He remains firm that there’s no genre that can beat Raggae because Raggae resonates with many, has been, and will always be. Even during the crazy tough times, there are a million Raggae songs that one can play and that would uplift their souls, unlike Afrobeats, which are just serving one purpose, which is to entertain.
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Difference between Afro beats and Reggae
Afrobeats is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles from Ghana and Nigeria. However, Nigeria has established its mark on Afrobeats, with more artists doing the genre and even one of theirs winning a Grammy for having released the best music that was loved by many.
Raggea, on the other hand, is a style of popular slow music with a strong accented subsidiary beat originating from Jamaica. Its lyrics are mostly influenced by Rastafarian ideas, and the music reflects what not just the country but people are going through in their day-to-day activities.