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.

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.”