Veteran music producer ID Cabasa has refuted Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton’s criticism of Afrobeats. Banton had previously labeled the genre as “shallow and unsubstantial,” arguing that it fails to highlight Africa’s struggles despite its global popularity.
Speaking at a memorial lecture for the late cleric Denis Joseph Slattery in Lagos, Cabasa responded by saying that Banton doesn’t fully grasp the essence of Afrobeats. He emphasized that the Jamaican singer lacks understanding of the language and cultural nuances behind the music.
ID Cabasa explained, “Buju Banton doesn’t understand the genre. Can he speak our language? No. Nigerians are some of the most sarcastic people in the world, and if you don’t get our sarcasm or how we tell our stories, you might think there’s no substance to it.”
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He further noted that just because Afrobeats artists convey their messages in a simpler way doesn’t mean they lack depth. “You listen to Burna Boy, BNXN (formerly known as Buju), Olamide, and Asake. Are you going to say there’s no substance in what Asake is doing? Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t give you the right to criticize. I think Banton is so focused on the beats that he’s missing the messages.”
ID Cabasa concluded by suggesting that Banton’s judgment stems more from generational differences in musical expression rather than any actual lack of substance in Afrobeats.
