Veteran record producer ID Cabasa has disputed Senegalese-American music executive Akon’s claim that he played a key role in creating the Afrobeats genre.
Cabasa, in an interview with Wazobia FM, argued that Afrobeats was already thriving in Nigeria before Akon’s collaborations with local artists in the late 2000s.
He cites artists like 2Face, 9ice, and Timaya, who were already making waves in the industry.
Cabasa also clarified that Wizkid was discovered and signed by Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment, not Akon.
According to Cabasa, Akon’s involvement was more about distribution and branding, rather than creating the genre itself.
Cabasa emphasises that Afrobeats is a cultural phenomenon that can’t be attributed to one person.
Speaking in Pidgin, Cabasa said: “Akon for also tok say na he still discovered the likes of 2Face, Timaya, 9ice and Co. Na the people wey he roll with when he come Nigeria, wey tell am say, ‘I’m the biggest person around this place.’ So, he properly feels he pioneered business and branding sides of Afrobeats.
“Even the way wey he take dey tok about Wizkid, no be wettin the story be be that. We all know say na Banky W dem sign Wizkid. Yes, we collaborate with Akon in terms of distribution but e no mean say he go tok say na he create Afrobeats. Because Afrobeats no be wettin wey one person create, na culture.”