Afrobeats faces threat – Omah Lay

Singer Omah Lay has expressed concerns about the current state of the Afrobeats genre, warning that it is facing significant challenges.

He criticized the genre’s increasing dilution in an attempt to cater to foreign audiences, which he believes is causing it to lose its essence and become overly commercialized.

During an appearance on the Zach Sang Show, Omah Lay voiced his worries, stating that Afrobeats is no longer in safe hands.

He pointed out that the genre’s profitability is leading many artists to prioritize money over passion.

“There’s too much money in Afrobeats. Artists are just chasing the money,” Omah Lay said. “I believe people are ruining Afrobeats. It’s becoming overly commercial. Right now, I don’t think Afrobeats is in safe hands.”

Recently, the genre has come under scrutiny, with prominent Jamaican reggae artist Buju Banton harshly criticizing it as “f*ckery,” claiming in a controversial interview that Afrobeats lacks substance and will eventually fade away.