- Seun Kuti says Afrobeats lacks structure
- Artists freely mix styles under the term
- Comments made during radio interview
Seun Kuti has claimed Afrobeats is not a real genre but simply a label used for convenience.
In a recent report by Eko Hot Blog, Seun explained that what many call Afrobeats is actually a mix of different styles like Amapiano, pop, and dancehall all grouped under one umbrella.
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He argued that there’s no consistent pattern or sound to define it as a proper genre. The Afrobeat musician made these comments during an interview on The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos.
According to him, even the leading artists and industry insiders don’t treat Afrobeats like a true musical category. “Afrobeats is more of a title than a genre,” he said. He believes it has become a label that helps with branding, rather than a term that reflects a specific sound or structure.
Seun, who is the son of the legendary Fela Kuti, pointed out that in real music genres, you’ll find clear similarities whether in rhythm, instruments, or song structure. But with Afrobeats, those elements are all over the place. One artist may drop an Amapiano record, another does a dancehall track, and both are still called Afrobeats.
This, he said, shows how the term is used more for market value than musical identity. While he acknowledged that the name has helped push African music to a global audience, he feels it doesn’t do justice to the variety and uniqueness of each artist’s work.
His remarks have sparked mixed reactions, with some agreeing that the term “Afrobeats” has become too broad, and others defending it as a symbol of Africa’s creative freedom.
For Seun, however, the message is clear: if Afrobeats is to grow as a genre, it needs clearer definition. Until then, it remains more of a label than a sound.
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