Let me be, Afrobeats sells –Olivetheboy to critics

ONE would expect that after all the bashing and accusations of copying Nigerian sounds, Afrobeats artiste Olivetheboy would ‘repent’ and start making plans to sound Ghanaian. Well, it seems that is the farthest from his mind at the moment.

The GoodSin hitmaker rather claps back at his critics, telling them doing his kind of music genre is a calculated move to tap into the global music market. He believes Afrobeats transcends borders, and embracing it has been key to his rapid rise to fame.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz on Monday, July 29, 2024, Olivetheboy pointed out to his fault-finders that by aligning himself with the well-established Nigerian music style, he's able to tap into a broader market and share his music with a larger audience.

“Yes, my kind of music is Afrobeats. The reason why people are on my case is because Nigerians have actually established Afrobeats, which is what really sells now. Whenever you hear music like mine, I mean the correct Afrobeats, it comes across as Nigerian,” he said.

He, however, debunks the notion that because of his music, he has lost his Ghanaian identity.

 ‘My Ghanaian identity remains intact. I proudly showcase my cultural heritage through my language, attire and other distinctive elements that authentically reflect my upbringing and roots.

 “I fell in love with Afrobeats and that is what I do. I'm not doing it to be Nigerian. I always make sure people know I'm Ghanaian. And I think the fact that I'm doing good out there and still representing my country is the only thing that's important right now,” he said.

Touching on the legacy he hopes to leave, Olivetheboy expressed his desire to inspire others to embrace Afrobeats without the fear of being branded ‘copycats’.

"I think that when I started, there weren't many people experimenting with Afrobeats because they felt it would make them sound too Nigerian. But I've been able to show a lot of people that it’s possible to confidently incorporate elements from elsewhere while maintaining a unique Ghanaian identity.

 “Now, you see many Ghanaian musicians who aren't afraid anymore to incorporate Nigerian sounds and language into their music, and similarly, Nigerians are using Ghanaian language and elements. I'm proud to have inspired people like myself to try new things.

“I want to make a significant impact on people, showing them that they can think outside the box and try different approaches to things. Building confidence in others to experiment with new sounds and styles,” he said.

When asked what would have been his profession if he were not a musician, he said, “If I wasn’t doing music, I’d probably work in a music-related field, such as managing an artiste.”

Since his breakthrough in 2023 with GoodSin, Olivetheboy has released 16 songs via two EPs: Avana and Tanga-reen. His debut EP, Tanga-reen, which marked the start of his music journey, has five songs namely Only You, Boys Boys, Saturday, All on You and Hey Shody.

Reflecting on his music journey so far, he praised his fans and the music community for all the support given to him.

“It’s been very good. I’ve had people showing support; a lot of people are loving my craft. So, it’s been good so far,” he added.