Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, born Divine Ikubor, has said the genre will not advance if its artists only make music that fans already like.
During a concert over the weekend, Rema said he prioritises his own taste over audience preferences and described himself as the “Prince of Afrobeats” with a responsibility to push the genre forward.
“I don’t care what you say about me. I don’t care if you like what I like. But I make music that I like before you like it. If I stick to what you like, Afrobeats is not going to move forward. And I will say it one more time, I am the f**king Prince of Afrobeats,” he said.
His remarks follow social media protests over Afrobeats artists who are blending other sounds and genres into their music to reach foreign audiences.
Some African and traditional Afrobeats fans have voiced disappointment with that direction. Even so, a growing number of Afrobeats artists continue to release songs and albums shaped by international sounds and genres.
