American rapper Fat Joe has sparked controversy by claiming that Afrobeats originated in Jamaica, not Africa. Speaking on the ‘Joe and Jada’ podcast alongside Jamaican dancehall legend Buju Banton, Fat Joe stated, “Jamaica started Afrobeats, even though everything comes from Africa.”
The comments come amid a broader debate about the cultural roots of Afrobeats. In 2024, Buju Banton criticized Afrobeats artistes for not paying homage to reggae and dancehall music, despite being influenced by the genres. He argued that Afrobeats lacks depth, failing to address the socio-political struggles of Africa, and accused the genre of not uplifting the African people.
Banton, a pioneer of Jamaican reggae and dancehall with hits like Untold Stories and Destiny, further claimed that contemporary Afrobeats artists are neglecting the cultural contributions of Jamaica. He emphasized that while African music has undoubtedly evolved, it is rooted in the foundations laid by icons like Fela Kuti and Salif Keita, whose work he feels is not being fully acknowledged today.
“I went to Africa in 1991 and spent weeks educating people from Ghana and across the continent about reggae and dancehall,” Buju shared. “I was disappointed to see that while they embraced many other musical influences, they didn’t connect with Jamaica—the root of it all.”
Afrobeats, which has become one of Africa’s most successful music exports, has seen a massive surge in global popularity in recent years. Stars like Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy have brought the genre to international stages. While music historians trace Afrobeats back to the early 2000s in Ghana and Nigeria, blending West African rhythms with highlife, hip-hop, and dancehall, its Jamaican influences continue to be a point of contention within the music community.
