Nigerian highlife singer Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, concurs with Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton’s assessment that Afrobeat music lacks depth.
In a recent interview, Buju Banton stirred controversy by describing Afrobeats music as “f*ckery” and asserting that it lacks substance, predicting its eventual fade into obscurity.
Flavour, speaking on the ‘In My Opinion’ podcast, echoed Banton’s sentiments. He attributed Afrobeat’s perceived shallowness to the artists themselves, suggesting that they prioritize easy vibes over meaningful content.
“I understand what Buju Banton is trying to say,” Flavour stated. “Today’s generation of Afrobeat artists prefers stress-free music—they just want to vibe.”
Flavour also speculated that Banton’s critique might serve as a wake-up call for artists to infuse more depth into their work.
Meanwhile, Flavour clarified his own musical identity. He distances himself from the Afrobeat genre, emphasizing that he is a high-life artist, not an Afrobeat artist. He criticized the tendency to categorize all African musicians under the Afrobeat label in Western media.
