Tems Defends Afrobeats as Escapism After Buju Banton’s Criticism

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, whose full name is Temilade Openiyi, has shared her perspective on the afrobeats genre.

In a recent episode of the “Shopping The Sneakers” podcast, she described afrobeats as a form of escapism rather than a vehicle for addressing societal issues.

She responded to criticism from Jamaican reggae legend Buju Banton, who had suggested that afrobeats lacks substance and would eventually fade.

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Tems acknowledged Banton’s viewpoint but clarified, “I understand where Buju Banton is coming from. Reggae is different from afrobeats. In Nigeria, afrobeats is specifically designed for escapism; that’s its main purpose.”