Joey Akan Sparks Debate on Gatekeeping in Afrobeats: We Can’t Water Down Our Culture for Global Success

Afrobeats journalist and cultural critic Joey Akan has sparked heated conversations online after calling out what he describes as a lack of “gatekeeping” in Afrobeats compared to other global genres.

In a thread shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Joey argued that while genres like Hip-Hop, R&B, and even Country music actively protect their cultural identity, Afrobeats is often treated as an open field where “everyone is welcome,” leading to what he termed “suicidal cultural empathy.”

“Everybody is allowed to gatekeep their culture, except Afrobeats. Hip hop does it, R&B does, Rock, everyone. But once it comes to Afrobeats, you begin to hear drivel like ‘be kind, we are all Africans, everyone is welcome, water it down to grow it,’” he wrote.

Citing the example of Country music, Joey pointed out how the Grammys recently introduced a new category — Best Traditional Country Album — to preserve the genre’s roots amid rising global influence.

According to him, Afrobeats has not been given similar cultural protection despite its global success, with Nigerians themselves sometimes “brainwashed by the fleeting promise of global recognition.”

He added:

“Worse, even Nigerians who are meant to walk beside me in narrative preservation, have been brainwashed by the fleeting promise of ‘global success,’ to wilfully participate in the erosion of their IP.”

The post has since ignited diverse reactions among Afrobeats fans and stakeholders. While some agree that strong boundaries are needed to keep the sound authentic, others argue that music should evolve naturally without being restricted.

What do you think?🤔

Should Afrobeats be gatekept to preserve its roots, or is global evolution just part of its natural journey?

Join the conversation in the comments.

Read Also: Beyond the Byline: How Joey Akan Became an Afrobeats Architect