Veteran Nigerian record producer and music executive ID Cabasa has refuted Senegalese-American musician and executive Akon’s claim that he helped create the Afrobeats genre.
In a recent interview, Akon said that his collaborations and relationships with Nigerian musicians and music executives from the late 2000s to the 2010s spawned what is now known as Afrobeat.
In an interview with Wazobia FM, ID Cabasa declared that Akon has no right to claim credit for the origins of Afrobeats.
He admitted that Akon collaborated and partnered with some Nigerian artists and music executives in the late 2000s to 2010s, when Afrobeats was yet to gain mainstream popularity in the Western world.
He argued that, although Akon was involved in the Afrobeats scene, it does not justify his claim of credit for its creation. He pointed out that artists like 2Face, 9ice, and Timaya were already gaining recognition long before Akon came to Nigeria to collaborate with Wizkid, P-Square and other Afrobeats artists.
The record producer also debunked Akon’s claim that Wizkid was just a local musician before he signed him to his record label in 2008 and groomed him. He noted that it was Banky W who discovered Wizkid’s talent and signed him to his record label, Empire Mates Entertainment, which later partnered with Akon’s label.
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.”