Banton, a Jamaican reggae icon, had sparked debate with his comments on the “Drink Champs” podcast, where he accused Afrobeats of lacking depth, cultural appropriation, and failing to acknowledge the influence of reggae and dancehall.
However, in an interview on the “Shopping The Sneakers” podcast, Tems, a prominent figure in the Afrobeats scene, offered a nuanced response. She said, “I understand where Buju Banton is coming from… Reggae is not Afrobeats, and Afrobeats in Nigeria is specifically for escapism, for vibe…that’s the purpose of Afrobeats.”
