Legendary Nigerian record producer and music executive, ID Cabasa, has spoken out against Akon’s claim of being instrumental in the creation of the Afrobeats genre.
Akon recently stated in an interview that his collaborations with Nigerian artists in the late 2000s to 2010s helped shape what is now known as Afrobeats.
However, ID Cabasa refuted this claim, emphasizing that artists like 2Face, 9ice, and Timaya were already making waves before Akon’s involvement in the scene.
Regarding Wizkid, Cabasa clarified that it was Banky W who discovered and signed the talented musician, not Akon as claimed.
In his own words, Cabasa expressed, “Akon should also say he discovered the likes of 2Face, Timaya, and 9ice, who were already prominent figures in the industry before his arrival.”
He highlighted the collaborative efforts with Akon in distribution but stressed that Afrobeats is a cultural movement that cannot be solely attributed to one individual’s influence.