Omah Lay raises concerns over declining quality in Afrobeats
Afrobeats singer Omah Lay has expressed concern over what he described as a decline in the quality of Nigerian music and the Afrobeats genre in recent years. In an interview
Afrobeats singer Omah Lay has expressed concern over what he described as a decline in the quality of Nigerian music and the Afrobeats genre in recent years.
In an interview with ViewsFrance, the “Soso” hitmaker noted that many artists appear to be placing less emphasis on creativity and depth in music production, focusing instead on rapid commercial success and visibility.
According to him, the trend affects not only the standard of Afrobeats but also the global perception of African music and culture.
Omah Lay urged his colleagues within the industry to place greater value on craftsmanship, stressing the importance of producing music that resonates beyond commercial appeal. He emphasised that a renewed commitment to quality and originality would help sustain the growth of Afrobeats and inspire the next generation of artists.
Omah Lay said, “Nigerian Music is drifting towards a place where artists are not putting so much effort into the art anymore.
“And that is also hurting my culture. Most artists are just playing with music these days and really aren't trying to improve the sound or the whole creative process around it.
“It is just quick money, and it is really dipping the audience and the new generation, that level of music is what they are growing to, and they are even doing worse.
“I don’t want to blame the globalisation of Afrobeats for that, but that could also be one of the reasons. Generally, it is a good thing that Afrobeats is happening in the world, and people are getting to know us from our music. But I just wish we could strive to raise the bar a little more with the craft.”
