Jamaican dancehall star Spice has taken issue with reggae legend Buju Banton’s recent remarks about Afrobeats, which he referred to as “f*ckery.”
During an appearance on the ‘Drink Champs’ podcast, Banton criticized Afrobeats artists for allegedly using their music for personal gain rather than addressing societal issues. He also claimed that Afrobeats lacks substance and would eventually fade away, accusing its artists of borrowing from Jamaican reggae and dancehall without proper credit.
In response, Spice spoke with Nigerian media personality Daddy Freeze on Instagram Live, defending Afrobeats. She emphasized that Afrobeats is far from “f*ckery” and expressed her admiration for the genre.
“I don’t think Afrobeats is f*ckery. It’s absurd to say that,” Spice stated. “I’m a fan of Afrobeats. Buju Banton’s comments seem to stem from a belief that Afrobeats lacks cultural content, which I disagree with. Artists like Burna Boy have addressed social issues in their music, such as the EndSars movement and ‘Monsters You Made.’ There are also other Afrobeats artists like 2Face and Falz who tackle political issues in Nigeria.
“The problem with Buju Banton is that he may not fully understand the diversity within genres. It’s unfair to label an entire genre as ‘f*ckery,’ especially one that is thriving globally. Even though I’m the queen of dancehall, Afrobeats is currently ruling the world.”
