Veteran music producer and executive, ID Cabasa refutes claims made by Senegalese-American artist Akon regarding his role in the creation of Afrobeats.
Akon recently stated in an interview that his collaborations with Nigerian artists and music executives in the late 2000s and early 2010s were instrumental in birthing the Afrobeats genre.
However, in a chat with Wazobia FM, ID Cabasa dismissed this assertion, asserting that Akon has no rightful claim to the origins of the genre
While acknowledging that Akon did work with several Nigerian artists during that period—when Afrobeats was still gaining traction globally.
Cabasa emphasized that this involvement doesn’t equate to being a founder; he mentioned that artists like 2Face, 9ice, and Timaya were already making waves before Akon started working with stars like Wizkid and P-Square.
Additionally, Cabasa rejected Akon’s claim that Wizkid was merely a local act before being signed and mentored by him in 2008.
He clarified that it was actually Banky W who discovered Wizkid and brought him into the spotlight through his label, Empire Mates Entertainment, which later entered into a partnership with Akon’s label.
ID Cabasa, speaking in pidgin, 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.”
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