Buju Banton Slams Afrobeats Artists for Cultural Appropriation

Jamaican dancehall legend Buju Banton has accused afrobeats artists of stealing from Jamaican reggae and dancehall music without giving credit. In a recent interview on the “Drink Champs” podcast, Banton claimed that afrobeats music lacks substance and will eventually fade away.

Banton expressed his disappointment with afrobeats artists for not acknowledging the influence of Jamaican music on their work. He stated, “A lot of culture vultures out there… They’ve focused on our music so hard and stolen our culture. I’m not knocking nobody, but they don’t give us no respect.”

The reggae icon also criticized afrobeats artists for using their music for personal gain rather than promoting liberation and freedom for the African continent. He emphasized the importance of using music as a tool for positive change, saying, “Your music shall come and go because it has nothing to do with soul, building energy. Our music is a time marker.”