‘Afrobeats has substance’ – Dancehall singer, Spice disagrees with Buju Banton

Jamaican dancehall star Spice has disagreed with her compatriot, reggae legend Buju Banton’s claims that Afrobeats music is “f*ckery”.

Banton had during a recent appearance on the ‘Drink Champs’ podcast, lambasted Afrobeats artistes for allegedly using their music to enrich themselves instead of singing about societal issues.

He also claimed that Afrobeats music has no substance and would fade with time.

He went on to accuse Afrobeats artistes of stealing from Jamaican reggae and dancehall music without crediting their source.

Reacting in an interview with Nigerian media personality, Daddy Freeze, via Instagram Live, Spice said Afrobeats isn’t “f*ckery”, stressing that she’s a fan of Afrobeats.

The ‘Queen of dancehall’ said contrary to Buju Banton’s claims, there are Afrobeats artistes who make conscious music.

“I don’t think Afrobeats is f*ckery. It’s absurd to say that,” she said.

“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. Because I listen to Burna Boy and I know his songs. I know that Burna Boy did a song about EndSars. He also did ‘Monsters You Made’ which is also a cultural song. There are other afrobeats artistes like 2Face and Falz who make songs about political issues in Nigeria. So, I feel like there are afrobeats artists that do cultural songs.

“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.”