Afrobeats: 'Not everybody has to do conscious music' - M3nsa comes at Buju Banton 'for talking down on us' -

M3nsa has lashed out at Buju Banton for his assessment of today’s African music, alias Afrobeats.

Born Mensa Bondzie Ansah, he spoke exclusively to Class 91.3 FM’s Prince Benjamin (PB), on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Guesting on the US-based Drink Champs podcast, Reggae/Dancehall legend Buju Banton said Afrobeats was profit-led, was not uplifting, unconcerned about Africa’s contemporary struggles, and had unfortunately deviated from the legacy of Fela Kuti, Salif Keita, Baba Maal, Youssou N’dour, etc.

He bemoaned today’s African musicians had been irresponsible with their worldwide fame, leaving Reggae musicians only to sing for Africa’s freedom. Buju Banton charged contemporary African musicians had also not given Jamaica its due respect for its pioneering status.

To him, Afrobeats was ultimately “f–kery”.

UK-based Ghanaian legendary record producer, singer-songwriter, rapper and music tutor M3nsa has pushed back, expressing profound disappointment.

The FOKN Bois co-founder and popular socio-political commentator asserted music must always be diverse in its themes and messages.

He wondered why other genres of music of Black origin are not assessed along the conscious music metric typical of Reggae.

The Forward singer argued a musician’s lifestyle and contribution to alleviating societal ills was more important than whether they sang about the same or not.

He decried Buju Banton’s insulting tone in his submission, admonishing every musician cannot be expected to sing about continental woes all the time.

“It’s rather unfortunate Buju would make these comments because we all grew up listening to him. We all love his music and I'm a big fan. I've always been. I love raga music, you know, when it’s very lyrical.

“And you know not everybody has to make the same kind of music.

“He just sounds a little bit out of touch and for me. The tone is very condescending because I don't see him telling African Americans or rappers who are from the hood where they are also struggling and there's poverty and all those things – I don't see him telling them to change their lyrics, you know.

“Not everybody has to make conscious music. Sometimes, we also want to take our minds off things and so I get it. You know me, I'm into lyricism, lyrical dexterity and all that stuff but allow people to make what they make.

“Because you can be making conscious music and in your personal life you can be getting up to no good.

“He himself is an example. He's just come out of jail for trying to, you know, transport cocaine, you know, and his biggest song was a very homophobic song, so what's he talking about?

“You don't know what other musicians are doing for their communities.

“And you understand the competition; how difficult it is for us Africans to get into these spaces.

“I get it we can't all be making odo [love] songs. Yes, let there be variety and so on and so forth

“But, for me, I don't think it warrants him talking like that, talking down on us like that.

“And that's my take. Just make what you make and let us also make what we make. Not everybody fits into that box he's putting us into.

“That's what I would say,” the Eyes But No Eyes hitmaker said.

M3nsa's latest offering is a tasteful avant-garde take on legacy Highlife titled Obaa No. His collaborator for the piece was legendary multi-instrumentalist, record producer and Ohia Ye Ya band leader Kwame Yeboah.