Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, has sparked fresh debate in the Nigerian and global music scene after sharing his views that Afrobeats should be seen more as a “label” or “title” rather than a distinct music genre.
Speaking during an interview on The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos, Seun broke down his perspective, stressing that while Afrobeats has become a global phenomenon associated with Africa, it lacks the structural definition and musical boundaries that typically characterize a genre. Instead, he argued, it serves more as a broad tag under which different styles of African-inspired music are placed.
According to him, most contemporary Afrobeats artists do not approach the craft as if it were one genre with strict patterns. Rather, they often experiment with sounds across multiple categories, from Nigerian pop and dancehall to amapiano, highlife, hip-hop, and even blues. In his words, this flexibility proves that Afrobeats functions as an umbrella identity rather than a codified genre.
“I think Afrobeats is more of a title than a genre,” Seun stated. “You can see how Amapiano is now considered the new Afrobeats. It’s the latest sound to dominate under the Afrobeats tag. So, Afrobeats is simply a generalisation, a title used to identify something from Africa, not a genre in the strict musical sense.”
The outspoken musician, who is also the youngest son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, emphasised that even some of the biggest stars associated with Afrobeats don’t treat it as a rigid style. “They could release a dancehall track today, drop an amapiano banger tomorrow, and then return with a Nigerian pop single. That’s why I keep saying Afrobeats is not really a genre—it’s just a title,” he added.
His comments have since gone viral, igniting mixed reactions among music lovers, critics, and industry professionals. While some fans agree with his point that Afrobeats is more of a cultural movement or branding term, others insist that it has developed its own recognisable sound and should rightly be called a genre. The debate continues to trend online as audiences weigh in on whether Afrobeats represents a style of music or simply a symbol of Africa’s diverse creative expression.