Jamaican dancehall star Spice has publicly disagreed with her fellow reggae legend Buju Banton’s recent controversial remarks about Afrobeats. During an appearance on the “Drink Champs” podcast, Buju Banton criticized Afrobeats, calling it “f*ckery” and accusing its artists of focusing on personal enrichment rather than addressing societal issues. He further alleged that Afrobeats lacks substance and would eventually fade away, also accusing its artists of borrowing from Jamaican reggae and dancehall without giving credit.
In a contrasting perspective, Spice defended Afrobeats in an Instagram Live interview with Nigerian media personality Daddy Freeze. The “Queen of Dancehall” emphasized that Afrobeats is far from “f*ckery” and expressed her admiration for the genre, stating that it has substance and includes artists who make conscious music.
She said:
“I don’t think Afrobeats is f*ckery. It’s absurd to say that… I am a fan of Afrobeats. I think he [Buju Banton] was speaking from a point that afrobeats don’t do cultural songs and I don’t know that to be true.”
Spice went on to highlight specific Afrobeats artists like Burna Boy, 2Face, and Falz, who have produced songs addressing political and societal issues, including Burna Boy’s “Monsters You Made” and his EndSARS protest song.
She concluded by noting:
“The problem with Buju Banton is that he doesn’t understand that artists are different. So, I think it’s harsh to say a genre is f*ckery, especially one that’s doing very well. We can’t deny it. I’m the queen of dancehall but afrobeats is ruling the world now.”
Spice’s response underscores the global influence and cultural significance of Afrobeats, highlighting its growing impact and relevance in the world of music.
