Written by Yohanna Mayam Mercy

   Wizkid, known for his hit song “Essence,” has recently taken to his Instagram account to assert his identity beyond the Afrobeats tag. Despite Afrobeats gaining global recognition, Wizkid proclaimed his versatility over the past two days, emphasizing that he transcends just one sound.

   After announcing the completion of his forthcoming album, “Morayo,” on Friday, March 15, 2024, Wizkid followed up with posts distancing himself from the Afrobeats label, stating, “I am not a darn Afrobeats artist! I’m not Afro anything!” Critics viewed this as a promotional strategy, but Wizkid remained resolute in his stance.

   In a lengthier post on Saturday, March 16, Wizkid elaborated on his reasons for rejecting the Afrobeats label. Firstly, he underscored his diverse music repertoire, emphasizing that he creates various genres beyond Afrobeats. He also expressed concern about how awards categorizations constrain artists, pushing them into generic categories regardless of their musical diversity.

   Furthermore, Wizkid challenged the origin of the Afrobeats tag, asserting that it boxes artists into a singular genre, contrary to the fusion of sounds they produce. He reminded fans that the term “Afrobeats” was coined to encompass all African music genres, which he believes undermines the individuality of artists like himself.