Nigerian Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has called on artistes in the genre to embrace experimentation, arguing that Afrobeats cannot evolve if musicians restrict themselves to producing only what their fans already enjoy.
Rema made the remarks during his concert over the weekend, where he spoke confidently about his approach to music and his vision for the future of the genre.
The singer said he prioritises making music that appeals to him before considering whether it will resonate with his audience. According to him, artistes who constantly tailor their sound to existing fan preferences risk limiting the growth and evolution of Afrobeats.
“I don’t care what you say about me. I don’t care if you like what I like. But I make music that I like before you like it. If I stick to what you like, Afrobeats is not going to move forward. And I will say it one more time, I am the f**king Prince of Afrobeats,” he said.
Rema’s comments come amid growing debate among Afrobeats listeners over the increasing influence of foreign sounds and genres on contemporary African music.
In recent weeks, some fans have taken to social media to criticise artistes for incorporating elements from other genres into their songs, particularly when such experimentation appears aimed at attracting international audiences.
Some traditional and long-time Afrobeats listeners have argued that the growing adoption of foreign sounds could dilute the identity and cultural character of the genre.
However, the trend has continued, with several Afrobeats artistes releasing songs and albums that blend the genre with sounds from pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic music and other international styles.
Rema’s position reflects the argument that musical evolution often requires artistes to move beyond familiar formulas, even when such changes initially face resistance from listeners.
Since emerging on the Nigerian music scene, Rema has developed a distinctive sound that combines Afrobeats with elements of other genres. His international success has also made him one of the younger Nigerian artistes at the forefront of the genre’s global expansion.
His latest comments are therefore likely to fuel the ongoing conversation over where Afrobeats should draw the line between preserving its identity and embracing experimentation as it reaches increasingly diverse audiences around the world.