Rita Odafe
Ama Serwah Genfi, better known as Amaarae, a singer of Ghanaian-American descent, has expressed her belief that the global Afrobeats movement has hit a plateau.
In a recent conversation with British-Nigerian influencer Madame Joyce, the artist known for the hit “Sad Girls Love Money” shared her thoughts.
She emphasized the need for Afrobeats and African music as a whole to progress, noting that many artists have seen substantial financial success from a particular style, which leads to a hesitancy to explore new musical avenues.
Amaarae mentioned, “Afrobeats and African music should progress. It needs to go in a bold direction, and currently, artists who have garnered wealth from a specific sound tend to shy away from exploring new horizons, likely more concerned with financial gains. Consequently, I believe Afrobeats has come to a standstill.
“Among my favorite albums from last year was Rema’s ‘HEIS.’ I view it as a representation of the evolution of Afrobeats. It has contributed significantly to advancing both the genre and culture, as well as propelling his career.
“Numerous artists with successful hits are hesitant to challenge the music’s boundaries, putting Afrobeats in a tough position. Thus, I believe it’s essential for Africans to come together, rise, and start experimenting. [African] music needs to transform and captivate audiences once more.”
