“Afro Substance”: Really, what kind of Music is Substantial?

Afrobeats, the popular umbrella music genre from West Africa, is vastly splintered with complexities, and varying thematic expressions that often try to depict the daily lives of the people who birth it- Nigerians.

Whether it’s in a caustic number about the Government in power, in a dogmatic tune that propels or gloats about the importance of wealth acquisition, in a soothing ballad that is focused on the effeminate jiggly mounds of sexiness (a.k.a yansh), or in a grass to grace street pop that
beautifies the tale of a Nigerian hustler, there is always a story to be told.

While Afrobeats in its glory mirrors a myriad of valid truths and realities, it is however crucial to note that benign artistic expressions aren’t always tantamount to long-term consumer value in
the grand scheme of things.

In the grand scheme of things, Substantial art offers long-term value to its patrons, devoid of transient and shallow topics that, unfortunately, can be found in a vast number of Afrobeats
songs today.

To be fair, this is indeed a tricky discourse. Perhaps, this was what ‘Afro-Fusion’ singer Burna
Boy meant in his infamous online interview when he denigrated Afrobeats music, referring to it
as empty, shaky, and lacking substance.

Although Burna’s claim carried matter, however, he carelessly painted the wrong information to
the public about the music genre. Afrisn’t generally lacking in substance (as far as long-
term value is concerned).

Afrobeats are deeper than the surface. It is diverse, deep, and rich in lyrical and melodic
nuances.