Solidstar Says Nigerian Music Lacks Variety

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Nigerian singer Solidstar has weighed in on the state of the country's music industry, saying he believes too much attention is now being given to Afrobeats at the expense of other genres.

The singer, who built his career by blending Afropop, dancehall, reggae and R&B, reflected on the period when he made his breakthrough, saying the Nigerian music scene was far more diverse than it is today. According to him, listeners once had a wider range of sounds to enjoy, with several genres enjoying mainstream success at the same time.

Drawing from his own experience in the industry, Solidstar recalled that when he became fully active around 2009 and 2010, Afrobeats had not yet become the dominant label it is today. He pointed out that Fuji music was one of the biggest genres during that era, giving artists from different musical backgrounds room to thrive.

The singer believes the current landscape has shifted heavily in one direction, leaving little space for variety. In his opinion, many musicians now appear to be following the same musical formula instead of developing their own unique sounds.

Expressing his frustration, Solidstar wrote:

"Nigerian musicians aren’t versatile. Stocked on one Genre (AFROBEATS). Nothing like AFROBEATS when I came out fully in 2009/2010, FUji was even huge! Make dem stop over rating nonsense and start selling good music!".

His statement suggests that his concern goes beyond the popularity of Afrobeats itself. Rather, he feels the industry has become overly dependent on one style of music, while other genres that once played important roles in shaping Nigeria's entertainment landscape have gradually faded into the background.

Solidstar's remarks also reflect his belief that creativity should not be limited by trends or popular labels. Instead of every artist chasing the same sound, he believes musicians should be encouraged to experiment with different genres and focus on making quality records that can stand the test of time.

Having spent well over a decade in the industry, the singer has witnessed the evolution of Nigerian music from an era where multiple genres competed for listeners' attention to one where Afrobeats has become the country's biggest musical export. While acknowledging the genre's global success, he maintains that diversity remains important for the continued growth of the industry.

For Solidstar, the future of Nigerian music should not rest on a single genre. He believes there is enough room for different styles to flourish, just as they did years ago, adding that the emphasis should always be on producing good music rather than following whatever sound is currently dominating the charts.

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