Nigerian singer and record producer Musicbwoy has expressed deep concerns about the state of Afrobeat, suggesting that the genre is in danger of losing its global prominence.
In a recent interview, he argued that the rise of Amapiano, a South African music genre, has contributed to what he views as the decline of Afrobeat in 2024. According to Musicbwoy, Afrobeat, which had become one of the most successful music genres globally in recent years, has struggled to produce any global hits this year. He warned that Afrobeat artists need to return to their roots and embrace the original sound that made the genre popular worldwide, instead of following the Amapiano trend.
Musicbwoy drew parallels between the current situation with Afrobeat and the decline of dancehall in Jamaica, noting that dancehall lost its influence when Jamaican artists began imitating American trap music instead of staying true to their roots. He believes that Nigerian musicians could face a similar fate if they continue to stray from the authentic Afrobeat sound.
In the interview, Musicbwoy also reflected on his early life and music career. Born Pedro Benson,
the Edo State native grew up in Benin City, southern Nigeria where he faced challenges as an upcoming Afrobeat artist. He shared that
“Growing up in Benin taught me a lot and made me the man I am today. I started doing music at a very young age, but growing up in Benin as an upcoming artist was the worst thing ever because the people there don’t really support the Afrobeat movement. They are more into local traditional music. As an Afrobeat artist, most people see you as a nuisance and a time-waster because they don’t believe in the Afrobeat process. In Benin, they believe you can only blow up as an artist in Lagos, which is so discouraging.
However, that experience made me stronger and greatly influenced my career, especially in terms of developing a unique sound, working hard to be at the top, and learning how to relate with people. At a certain point, I was trying even harder to create a sound that would make people believe in me and see the uniqueness in my music.
As for my family and educational background, I’m from Esan Southeast in Edo State. I was born and raised in Benin City, where I completed my primary and secondary education. I graduated from Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State.
Musicbwoy, who became an internet sensation after his DJ mixtapes went viral in 2018, has managed to stay relevant up to date. He mentioned that he will be dropping an EP in October, though he hasn’t announced the exact date yet.”
