Joeboy, a well-known performer from Nigeria, disagrees with Burna Boy on his claim that most afrobeats musicians don’t write music with meaningful lyrics.
Recalls that Burna Boy recently claimed that most Nigerian musicians produce songs “without substance” in an interview with Apple songs’s Zane Lowe.
Joeboy, who recently appeared on the Zero Conditions podcast, refuted the Grammy-winning singer’s assertion.
In response to Burna Boy’s comment that [afrobeats musicians] lack substance, the presenter questioned: “For you as an afrobeats artist, how much balance do you do with living life? How much experience do you try to garner as an artist?”
Everyone has substance, Joeboy said in response. It just depends on what resonates with individuals. People may think you are just having fun when you create a fast-paced, danceable music. or if your singing isn’t in English.
“I used to notice certain comments [on social media] when people would say things like, ‘Ah pinging!’ while someone was singing in plain English. What is the ping? because of his English singing?
“Every musician out there, simply write in clear English if you want people to think you are an excellent songwriter. I guarantee that when they hear this, the fans will exclaim, “Oh, this guy is the best songwriter ever.” And they [fans] would say, “Ah! This one dey do lamba,” when someone sang in Pidgin.
