Afrobeats Scene Dominated by Lagos, Yoruba Artistes — Omah Lay

Truetells Nigeria reports that Nigerian singer Omah Lay has stirred debate online after sharing his perspective on the structure of the Afrobeats music industry in the country.

The music star said the genre is largely centred in Lagos and that many of the leading figures shaping the industry come from the Yoruba ethnic group.

According to him, this situation can make it more difficult for artistes from other regions of Nigeria to gain recognition within the Lagos-based music scene.

Omah Lay, who hails from Port Harcourt in Rivers State, said building a career in the Lagos music environment was challenging for him at the early stage of his journey.

He explained that he struggled for years before gaining a foothold in the industry, noting that the experience could be exhausting for artistes trying to break into the mainstream music space.

The singer made the remarks during a listening event for his forthcoming album titled Clarity Of Mind, where he reflected on his career and the pressure that comes with meeting expectations from fans and stakeholders in the music industry.

He also noted that Afrobeats developed strongly in Lagos and was greatly influenced by the legacy of legendary musician Fela Kuti, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the genre.

Speaking further, Omah Lay pointed out that only a few globally recognised Afrobeats stars have emerged from Port Harcourt, mentioning himself and Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy.

According to him, there was a point in his career when he decided to focus more on the support from his family and loyal fans rather than trying to gain acceptance from everyone in the industry.

His comments have since generated mixed reactions among music fans on social media, with some agreeing with his observations about Lagos’ influence on the Afrobeats scene while others insist the industry is becoming more inclusive.