Popular Nigerian disc jockey Nonso Temisan Ajufo, widely known as DJ Big N, has raised serious concerns about the current state of the Afrobeats genre, warning that it is experiencing its lowest point in two decades.
Speaking during a recent interview with Echo Room, the Mavin Records DJ did not hold back as he blamed both artists and music executives for what he described as a decline in the genre’s global influence and authenticity.
“Afrobeats right now is at its worst position in the last 20 years. And everyone from musicians to music executives have a part to be blamed. The quality of music dropped,” DJ Big N said.
He explained that in the pursuit of international recognition, many artists and record labels have diluted the originality of Afrobeats, making it less distinct and appealing.
“Also, the originality of the music dropped. Always understand that whatever you want to export has to be original first. If you try to export something else, it’s only a matter of time before you stop getting demands. You can’t sell foreign genres to foreign audiences. We have to embrace our originality,” he emphasized.
The veteran DJ further pointed out that overpricing by Afrobeats artists is another issue hurting the industry. According to him, many Nigerian artists have become too expensive to book, even within the country, making their music and performances less accessible.
“A lot of Nigerian artists are no longer affordable, especially in their home country,” he lamented.
DJ Big N urged Afrobeats artists to reevaluate their strategies and reconnect with the genre’s roots to prevent it from stagnating or losing its global appeal entirely.
His comments come at a time when fans and critics alike are debating whether Afrobeats, once the pride of African music export, is beginning to lose its global momentum.
