“Some people could adopt or hijack afrobeat if we are not smart” – Samklef
Samklef, a Nigerian music producer has suggested that Afrobeat musicians should focus on writing tracks that make listeners adore the genre rather than experimenting.
He stressed the importance of sticking to tried-and-true methods and avoiding new, difficult-to-implement concepts in order to avoid the demise of afrobeat or its possible hijacking by outsiders.
Samklef made the suggestion in an interview when he was asked about how to maintain the global momentum for the genre that originated in Nigeria.
He said;
“It is important to have sincerity of purpose in whatever one does. With the relevance and momentum afrobeats has now, we (entertainers) need to ask ourselves what we did for it to hit the mainstream. Thereafter, we can do more of what is working, stop what is not working and start what we think can work. Otherwise, we won’t be able to sustain the buzz, or some people could adopt the sound and hijack it from us. If that happens, people will even forget where afro beats originated from.”
The musician expressed worry about the reality that few Nigerian acts release timeless songs, which is why most songs lose their appeal after a few months.
In his words;
“Music is a universal language, and I believe that not all songs can be evergreen. Some songs are made to address situations, while some are solely for entertainment purposes.
Once in a while, some artists would ‘catch a vibe’ and make music that would last, even after they are no longer alive. However, I do not believe that the days of good music and evergreen songs are gone. Artists just need to calm down, and not be pressured to churn out trendy songs and make fast money. Some songs don’t even last for more than three months.”
Speaking on the greatest challenge Nigerian music producers have to contend with, he said it was the quest to be heard and seen.
He said;
“Humans face many challenges, and producers are not left out. Professionally, I would say the quest to be heard and seen is the biggest challenge for producers. Before now, producers were just heard.
Now, many producers are crossing over to make their own music, become stars and get more money. Staying relevant is another major challenge for producers.”
