Veteran Nigerian music producer and executive ID Cabasa has pushed back strongly against recent claims by Senegalese-American artist Akon, who suggested he played a central role in the creation of Afrobeats.
In a widely circulated interview, Akon asserted that his collaborations with Nigerian artists between the late 2000s and early 2010s were instrumental in birthing the now globally recognized genre. But Cabasa isn’t having it.
Appearing on Wazobia FM, the acclaimed producer dismissed Akon’s claims, emphasizing that Afrobeats predates his involvement in the Nigerian music scene. While acknowledging Akon’s collaborations and distribution partnerships during that era, Cabasa stressed that several Nigerian artists—2Face Idibia, 9ice, and Timaya, among others—were already building Afrobeats’ foundation before Akon’s entry.
“Akon for also tok say na he still discovered the likes of 2Face, Timaya, 9ice and Co,” Cabasa said in Pidgin. “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.”
Cabasa also debunked Akon’s claim that he discovered and signed Wizkid before the artist became famous. He clarified that Banky W was responsible for signing and grooming Wizkid under Empire Mates Entertainment (EME), which later collaborated with Akon’s label for distribution purposes.
“Even the way wey he take dey tok about Wizkid, no be wettin the story be be that,” Cabasa said. “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.”
The music executive concluded by stating that Afrobeats is a cultural movement, shaped by decades of talent, creativity, and grassroots support—not the invention of any single artist or executive.
This rebuttal adds to the ongoing discourse on Afrobeats’ origins and the rightful recognition of those who laid the groundwork for its global rise.
