Nigerian singer Tems has responded to Jamaican reggae legend Buju Banton’s criticism of afrobeats, stating that the genre is meant to be an escape from the harsh realities of life in Nigeria. Buju Banton had claimed that afrobeats lacks substance and will eventually fade away.
Tems, who won a Grammy Award, explained that afrobeats serves a different purpose than reggae music. She acknowledged Buju Banton’s perspective but emphasized that afrobeats is specifically designed to provide escapism for Nigerians.
The conversation began when Buju Banton criticized afrobeats on a podcast, sparking a debate about the genre’s value and purpose.