Wizkid has requested people stop referring to him as an Afrobeats artist.
The Nigerian singer — whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun — says he is wrongly labeled as an Afrobeats artist and that his 2020 album, Made In Lagos, offered a “fusion of different sounds.”
The star — who also teased his upcoming album Morayo is “done” — says those who refer to all African artists as Afrobeats need to “educate” themselves.
“You lost people always want someone to educate you. You got your phone, Google [and] research s*** or take a flight and see the world. Don’t be ignorant and stupid all the time,” he wrote in a statement on his Instagram Story. “Listen, am I African? Yes! But I do make all sorts of music. Fine music! But I don’t want [to be] labeled just Afrobeats. That’s like like saying every American artist makes rap. That’s stupid.”
“This is why no matter how good or amazing the music we make — [albeit] R&B or whatever other genre — we all get nominated in one Africa category or the other,” Wizkid continued. “I’ve made songs from different genres of music. Made In Lagos is not an ‘Afrobeats’ album. That’s a fusion of different sounds. Real music! The word ‘Afrobeats’ was made up by y’all to put all we [Africans] make in one box. [Legendary afro-pop pioneer] Fela [Kuti] created Afrobeat!! I make all sorts of music. [A] fusion of sounds!”
“I’m a artiste” before anything else.. True to my art. Not scared to try s***. No, y’all drink some milk,” the singer stated.
