Afrobeats is enjoying a great cultural moment globally, but why are Nigerian fans excluded from this by a toxic concert culture?
The first shows of the December season are starting to roll out. Fans of Nigeria’s Afrobeats scene look forward to being serenaded by Nigeria’s biggest music stars. But that excitement is tainted by the fact that many of those artists do not seem to share their fans’ excitement for showing up at concerts and events. And this story has become all too common, happening year after year.
On the part of the fans, the concerts that proliferate at the end of each year are a way to celebrate, to immerse oneself into what is becoming Nigeria’s biggest cultural export; Afrobeats. Yet, it is hard to reconcile that in the era where Afrobeats is being lauded and globally recognized, fans in Nigeria seem to be left out of that excitement by the way artists behave or misbehave at their Nigerian concerts.
It is clear now more than ever the influence that Afrobeats has on the world. It is able to create global-calibre superstars with a sound that is uniquely African but the fans that propelled this genre to global status in the first place, who nursed it from its more obscure days on Nigerian streets, are not able to reap the joy that others fans experience globally; the thrill of watching your favourite artist play your favourite songs live. And to have that experience in a safe and professional environment...
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