Afrobeats Has Stalled, Says Amaarae, Urges Artists to Embrace Change
Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae has said that Afrobeats has hit a creative plateau, citing a lack of experimentation and artistic risk-taking as key reasons for the genre’s current slowdown.
Speaking during an interview with British-Nigerian media personality Madame Joyce, the Sad Girls Love Money hitmaker argued that while Afrobeats has enjoyed significant global success, its momentum is beginning to wane.
“Afrobeats and African music need to evolve in a direction that is fearless,” she said. “Right now, artists have made so much money from a particular sound that they’re hesitant to move beyond it. They’re focused on the financial returns, and that’s stalling the genre.”
Amaarae highlighted Rema’s 2023 album HEIS as an example of how innovation can push the genre forward. She praised the project for expanding Afrobeats’ sonic boundaries and elevating Rema’s career in the process.
“There are artists with massive hits who still won’t take creative risks,” she added. “That’s why the genre is stuck. African music needs to start exciting people again.”
Her comments come at a time when the global spotlight on Afrobeats remains strong, but critics and fans alike are calling for deeper storytelling and musical growth to sustain its influence.
