Popular Nigerian singer Joeboy has hailed what he describes as a renaissance in Afrobeats, claiming the genre is being purified of diluted and gimmicky sounds.
Speaking during his sold-out Valentine’s Day performance in Lagos, the Faji crooner said Afrobeats is returning to its “real music” roots.
“Wack music no longer has a place in the genre. Afrobeats right now is going through a purge. We are getting back to the times where real music is going to stay — no more gimmicking and all of that,” Joeboy said.
He added, “I can feel it already and I am happy that we are getting back to those zones where the music speaks. I thank God for that.”
At the start of the 2020s, Afrobeats saw significant genre fusion, blending with South Africa’s Amapiano, American hip-hop, and R&B. Critics often claimed that this fusion diluted the authenticity of Afrobeats in a bid to appeal to a global audience.
The trend began shifting in 2024 as Nigerian artists gradually returned to producing “real Afrobeats,” reducing excessive Amapiano influences. Music enthusiasts have welcomed this change, acknowledging it as a step toward reclaiming the genre’s original rhythm, though full restoration may take time.
Joeboy’s remarks highlight a growing movement within the Nigerian music industry to re-centre Afrobeats around its authentic sound, ensuring the genre remains rooted in its cultural identity while evolving for modern audiences.
