Veteran Nigerian music producer and executive, ID Cabasa, has responded to recent remarks by Senegalese-American artist, Akon, dismissing his claim of having played a foundational role in the creation of Afrobeats.
Cabasa attributed Akon’s statements to a misunderstanding shaped by those around him during his visits to Nigeria.
Recall that Akon, in a recent interview, had asserted that his collaborations and partnerships with Nigerian artists and music executives from the late 2000s to the 2010s were pivotal in birthing Afrobeats as it is known today.
However, in a chat with Wazobia FM, ID Cabasa disagreed with this assertion, noting that while Akon did collaborate with Nigerian talents during that period, it does not warrant him taking credit for the genre’s origin.
Cabasa emphasized that artists such as 2Face, 9ice, and Timaya had already gained prominence before Akon began working with acts like Wizkid and P-Square.
He also dismissed Akon’s claim that he discovered Wizkid, pointing out that it was Banky W who initially signed the artist under Empire Mates Entertainment, with Akon’s involvement coming later through a partnership.
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.”
