Afrobeats is escapism – Tems counters Buju Banton

 Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has clarified that afrobeats is primarily a genre meant for escapism. 

She explained that, in Nigeria, afrobeats serves as a means to escape harsh realities rather than as a platform to address societal issues. 

Tems shared this perspective in response to Jamaican reggae legend Buju Banton's recent criticism of afrobeats on the ‘Shopping The Sneakers’ podcast. Banton had argued that afrobeats lacks substance and would eventually fade away.

Tems acknowledged Banton’s viewpoint but emphasized, “I understand where Buju Banton is coming from. Reggae is different from afrobeats, and afrobeats in Nigeria is specifically intended for escapism; that’s its primary purpose.”