Veteran Afrobeats pioneer 2Baba has shut down talk that the genre is fading, insisting the sound is still growing and that claims of its decline are being pushed by people who want it out of the system.
The “African Queen” star made the remarks during an interview on Beyond The Hype when asked whether Afrobeats was dying or simply evolving.
“It depends on how you look at it and who’s looking at it. I personally believe some people are trying to run it out of the system so they’re coming up with all these talks. This beautiful music, beautiful sound keeps evolving. And then, we have so many fresh talents coming up with crazy styles and crazy ideas,” he said.
2Baba argued that listeners who have grown tired of established stars have plenty of new options.
“For me, I think it’s growing and I think that if you’re tired of the established stars, you have a million and one choices to look up and look out for. If some people are tired of the established stars, it’s their problem — not anybody’s problem.”
He compared Afrobeats to other long-lasting genres.
“I don’t think music dies. It’s like saying reggae, rock and roll, or rap is dead. Afrobeats is a type of music and it can never die.”
The comments come as conversations continue about the next phase of Afrobeats after years of global dominance. 2Baba, one of the artists who helped take the sound from local radio to international stages, framed the current moment as evolution rather than exhaustion.
His position is consistent with earlier remarks this year in which he praised emerging acts and said the genre remains in safe hands because of the volume of new talent. For a pioneer who has watched the music move through several generations, he maintained that the sound is not finished. It is still changing, and that change is proof of life.