Reactions have trailed an article published on the Grammy’s website which described Afrobeats as a mixture of West African and Black American music.
“Afrobeats is a mesmeric blend of #WestAfrican and Black American music that has quickly become a global pop phenomenon”, the writer had claimed. But the backlash from social media users has forced the Grammy to take away the ‘Black American’ phrase from the article.
The article which attempted to explore the historicity of the Afrobeats was met with widespread criticisms over the claim that it is a fusion of West African and Black American music.
See some comments below:
The thirst for billboard and Grammy will make us lose our heritage.
This slavery no fit leave us, na curse— TIFE???????????? (@ZeekiHodl) July 27, 2022
I’m pretty sure if AfroBeats was a physical art, you shameless art-thieves would’ve sent troops down to Africa to come and steal then claim it was yours.
— LERRY ???? (@_AsiwajuLerry) July 27, 2022
Highly recommend hiring someone who’s worked in the Afrobeat culture for YEARS, not just someone who started yesterday, to avoid this type of in accurate reporting. More than happy to help! ????
— Raro Lae (@TheRaroLae) July 27, 2022
West African and black American ????????????
Thats how Burna had to correct an interviewer at one point the UK had no influence whatsoever on the birth of afrobeats.
We really have to tell our own stories or else this people are ready to claim the only good export from us in a while
— KontentSensei(Music business Enlightener) (@KontentSensei) July 27, 2022
Afrobeats is not influenced by Black American music , it’s has always been an African thing but now we have lots of Black Americans tryin to copy the sound .. so who is influencing whom ? Jut cos u have check ✅ after ur handle don’t mean u are always right ????..
— fire ???? lord (@deejayflammzy) July 27, 2022
Modern afrobeat is more inspired by black American music and culture than anything else. Tell me wizkid ft Burnaboy Ginger video is not like an hip hop video. Our artist dress like trap stars to so give credit to Black Americans too….
— Ashley D first (@AshleyDFirst) July 27, 2022
I read the article and I can’t see where you explicitly or even vaguely mentioned contributions of black Americans to afrobeat
Black Americans cry blood every damn day about culture vultures when they are not any different. Afrobeat is African and African alone— moe_yhin (@slimjade_) July 28, 2022
Burna defined his sound by calling it afrofusion but y’all cIowned him for it,wen u have a song like essence dat is heavily american influenced from a supposed afrobeats singer,you get articles like dis
— Egbon Bolaji???????????????? (@bolaji14491393) July 27, 2022
This is total disrespect to Africans. It has never been a mix of anything.
We are now successful and you want to come and take the glory.
Please take this down, if you really care for African's culture
— Dapsy???? (@symplyDAPO) July 27, 2022
When y'all depend on their Grammys, Billboard Hot 100 and charts and awards to tell us how Good our own songs are.
I saw someone saying ABT is trash because it didn't do well in US charts????. Another said Olamide is irrelevant because he's not in the US market????
WE ARE THEMMM!!— Abobo???? (@Abobo99_) July 27, 2022
