- Western labels accused of exploiting weak African music structures.
- Artists reportedly signing contracts that limit long-term ownership.
- Enilolobo says Afrobeats’ global success must benefit Africa first.
- Calls for stronger local labels, legal knowledge and real investment.
Entertainment executive and artiste manager Otunba Olumide Enilolobo has warned that major Western record labels are quietly taking control of Afrobeats, saying Africa risks losing ownership of its most valuable creative export if urgent reforms are not made.
Speaking ahead of his birthday, Enilolobo said Afrobeats has grown far beyond a cultural wave and is now one of Africa’s biggest economic strengths. He noted that global reports show African music recording rapid annual growth, with billions of streams pushing the genre deeper into the international market.
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However, he warned that even as Afrobeats expands worldwide, the business behind it is slowly slipping away from African hands. Enilolobo said many artists are trapped in deals with Western record labels that appear attractive at first but ultimately leave them without ownership or long-term financial control.
He explained that this problem is worsened by structural gaps within the African music ecosystem. Weak local labels, insufficient legal guidance for artists, and poorly organised management systems, he said, make it easy for foreign companies to dominate the business side of the culture.
“When artists lose ownership, the culture loses ownership,” he said, stressing that Afrobeats could easily become another global sound controlled outside the continent if Africa does not move fast to secure its interests.
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He insisted that music is more than entertainment value and should be recognised as a core economic driver. According to him, Afrobeats contributes to Africa’s GDP, global visibility, and youth employment, making it an asset the continent cannot afford to lose.
Enilolobo called for a stronger industry foundation built on structure, ownership and long-term planning. He urged governments, investors and local industry leaders to take the business of music seriously and create an environment where African artists benefit fully from their work.
He said the future of Afrobeats depends on Africa’s willingness to protect and grow its creative resources, not hand them over to foreign entities.
