Afrobeat Can Never Be Diluted —Ayra Starr

Afrobeat Can Never Be Diluted —Ayra Starr

Nigerian songstress Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, recently expressed her views on the evolving landscape of Afrobeats.

In an interview with Tariro Mzezewa for ELLE Magazine, Ayra Starr conveyed her concern about the genre potentially losing its essence and authenticity as it gains international prominence through collaborations and global recognition.

She emphasized that it is unjust to criticize Afrobeats for reaching a broader audience and becoming mainstream.

She said, ‘‘It’s not fair at all. People want to put negativity on Afrobeats because it has become so mainstream. The generations of African artists who worked to this extent for people like me to be able to be global with this sound worked for this. The genre’s not being diluted; it’s becoming mainstream. People are going to want to try things and do their own versions of them. The key is that when we stick together as Afrobeats artists and continue with our sound, it can never be diluted. Nobody is ever going to be able to do it like us. That’s just the truth, and it’s a beautiful thing to see and lovely to hear.”

Ayra Starr firmly believes that while there may be attempts to dilute Afrobeats by infusing it with other styles, the genre itself will maintain its core identity as long as its artists unite and stay true to their roots.