Nigerian Singer Rema Stresses Importance of Maintaining Afrobeats Culture in the Music Industry
Rema, a popular Nigerian singer, has called on his fellow artists to hold onto the cultural identity of Afrobeats music, a genre that has dominated the African music scene for decades. In a recent interview with Apple Music, Rema emphasized the need to preserve the unique sound and style of Afrobeats, despite the growing influence of South African genre, amapiano.
The singer, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, argued that while amapiano is a great genre, Nigerian artists must not forget the iconic sounds of Afrobeats legends like Don Jazzy, the Mo’hits crew, 2Baba, Olamide, P-Square, and Timaya. He revealed that his recently released sophomore album, ‘HeIs,’ was heavily inspired by these Afrobeats pioneers.
Rema, who has gained international recognition with his unique blend of Afrobeats and other genres, expressed his concerns about the growing infiltration of amapiano into the Nigerian music industry. While he acknowledged the appeal of the genre, he believes that Nigerian artists should not compromise on their cultural heritage.
"We need more of that [Afrobeats production]. I don’t want us to go too far away from that. We need to sustain it," Rema stressed.
Rema’s message has sparked a heated debate among fans and industry insiders, with some arguing that Afrobeats is evolving and should adapt to new trends and styles. However, Rema’s plea is likely to resonate with many Nigerians and music lovers across Africa, who are passionate about preserving their cultural identity through music.
As Afrobeats continues to spread globally, Rema’s words of caution serve as a reminder of the importance of cultural authenticity and the need to balance innovation with tradition in the music industry.
