Nigerian Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has argued that the genre cannot evolve if artistes restrict themselves to making only the kind of music their existing fans enjoy.
The singer made the remarks while speaking to fans at his concert over the weekend, where he defended his approach to music and experimentation.
Rema said his creative process begins with making music that appeals to him personally rather than tailoring every release to audience expectations.
According to the singer, constantly following what Afrobeats fans already like could prevent the genre from developing in new directions.
“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,” he said.
Rema described himself as the “Prince of Afrobeats” and said he sees himself as part of the generation responsible for pushing the genre forward.
He argued that artistes need room to explore new sounds, even when those experiments do not immediately appeal to traditional Afrobeats audiences.
“If I stick to what you like, Afrobeats is not going to move forward,” he added.
The singer’s comments come amid an ongoing debate among Afrobeats listeners over the genre’s increasing fusion with sounds from other parts of the world.
Some fans, particularly those who prefer the genre’s more traditional African influences, have criticised artistes for incorporating foreign sounds and styles in attempts to reach wider international audiences.
The debate has intensified as more Nigerian artistes continue to release projects featuring elements drawn from different genres and musical cultures.
Rema’s position, however, suggests that experimentation and creative risk-taking are necessary for Afrobeats to maintain its growth and expand its musical boundaries.
For the singer, the genre’s future may depend not only on satisfying its current audience but also on artistes having the freedom to create sounds that audiences have yet to embrace.
