Don’t stick to what fans like – Rema tells artists

Nigerian Afrobeats star, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has urged fellow artistes not to become too comfortable with their sound, saying the genre can only grow when musicians are willing to experiment and evolve.

Rema made the remarks during a recent concert, where he argued that artistes risk limiting the growth of Afrobeats when they focus solely on producing music that appeals to their existing fan base.

The singer said artistes should prioritise their creativity and make music they believe in rather than allowing fans’ preferences to dictate their artistic direction.

“I don’t care what you say about me. I don’t care if you like what I like. But I make music that I like before you like it. If I stick to what you like, Afrobeats is not going to move forward,” he said.

Rema also described himself as the “Prince of Afrobeats”, stressing that he considers it part of his responsibility to contribute to the evolution of the genre, whether or not fans immediately embrace his creative choices.

“And I will say it one more time, I am the f**king Prince of Afrobeats,” he added.

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His comments come amid ongoing debates among Nigerian music fans over the increasing fusion of Afrobeats with other sounds and international genres.

Some fans have criticised artistes for incorporating foreign influences into their music, arguing that the growing pursuit of global appeal could dilute the identity of Afrobeats.

Despite the criticism, several Afrobeats artistes have continued to experiment with different sounds, blending the genre with elements of pop, R&B, hip-hop, dancehall and other international styles.

Rema’s position highlights the wider debate over whether Afrobeats should remain rooted in its traditional sound or continue evolving as Nigerian artistes seek to expand the genre’s global influence.