This was revealed on Monday by Samklef via his X (Formerly known as Twitter) account, who said that Nigerian contemporary music lacked a genre and name until he and Wizkid gave the genre the term “Afrobeats” in 2010.
The “Molowo Noni” crooner claimed that although Nigerian music pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is credited with inventing Afrobeats, Wizkid’s rise to fame as a producer in the past ten years, which he helped to bring about, heralded a new era for the country’s modern music industry.
According to Samklef, they both deserve credit for the magic and the name Afrobeats.
Sharing a throwback video of himself and Wizkid on his X page on Monday, Samklef wrote:
“Meet the Nigerian two kids that created the afrobeats sound of today. As of 2009, Nigerian music had no title! Until these two created magic! 2010! Even the award categories in Nigeria were Best Hip Hop, Best R and B, Best Alternative Music and Best Reggae! There was nothing like Best Afrobeats! It was Wizkidayo who named it afrobeats! Know this and know peace! Fela created Afrobeat!”
Watch the video below.
Facts check! Meet the Nigeria 2 kids that created the afrobeats sound of today. As at 2009 Nigeria music had no title! Until this 2 created magic! 2010! Even the awards category in Nigeria was best hip hop, best R and B best alternative music and best raggae! There was nothing… pic.twitter.com/vliX6xuscp
— Samklef 🐉 (@SAMKLEF) September 11, 2023