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It’s impossible to talk about afrobeats without mentioning my name – Davido
Nigerian superstar Davido has reaffirmed his integral role in the global success of the Afrobeats genre.
In a candid statement in the latest edition of TheBeatJuice magazine, the singer, known for hits like Skelewu, declared that it is impossible to discuss Afrobeats without mentioning his name.
“Afrobeats can’t be brought up without my name. Impossible,” he said, underscoring his belief in his pivotal contributions to the genre’s worldwide recognition.
Despite his dominance in the Afrobeats scene alongside fellow superstars Wizkid and Burna Boy, Davido has expressed mixed feelings about the genre’s label.
During a previous appearance on the Business Untitled Podcast, he voiced his concerns about the tendency to box all African artists into the Afrobeats category, regardless of their diverse musical styles.
Davido explained that while he prefers to identify as an Afro-fusion artist, he understands the necessity of categorizing African music under one genre, acknowledging the importance of Afrobeats in bringing African music to the global stage.
“I don’t get offended when we’ve been categorised as Afrobeats. I mean, we need a genre. It could be R&B or Afropop. I call my music Afrofusion, but I’m not big on ‘O put Afrofusion on my song.’ I know how long it took for African music to become mainstream,” he stated.
This candid reflection from Davido highlights the ongoing evolution of African music and the artist’s role in shaping its current and future trajectory.