Veteran Nigerian music producer and executive, ID Cabasa, has refuted claims made by Senegalese-American singer and music executive, Akon, regarding his role in the creation of the Afrobeats genre.
Akon recently stated in an interview that his collaborations with Nigerian artists and executives from the late 2000s to early 2010s were key in the development of what is now known as Afrobeats.
In response, during an interview with Wazobia FM, ID Cabasa asserted that Akon has no grounds to take credit for the genre’s origin.
He acknowledged that Akon did work with several Nigerian artists and music professionals during that time—when Afrobeats had yet to break into global mainstream—but insisted that his involvement does not equate to founding the genre.
ID Cabasa emphasized that artists such as 2Face, 9ice, and Timaya were already making waves before Akon began collaborating with acts like Wizkid and P-Square.
He also dismissed Akon’s claim that he discovered and developed Wizkid, clarifying that it was Banky W who first identified Wizkid’s potential and signed him to Empire Mates Entertainment, which only later entered into a partnership with Akon’s label.
Speaking in Pidgin, ID 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.”
