‘Artistes aren’t putting effort anymore’ — Omah Lay laments Afrobeat' Decline

Omah Lay (Nigerian singer and songwriter)

Omah Lay has delivered a blunt wake-up call to the Nigerian music scene, warning that a desperate chase for "quick hits" is killing the depth of Afrobeats.

Speaking on *ViewsFrance*, the singer claimed the industry is losing its creative soul because many artists are no longer putting real effort into their work, prioritizing fast success over quality.

“Nigerian music is drifting towards a place where artistes are not putting so much effort into the art anymore,” he said, pointing to what he sees as a worrying change in priorities.

Omah Lay argues that the problem isn't just about the music—it's a cultural crisis. He believes that shallow, low-effort songs are beginning to damage how Afrobeats is viewed by the rest of the world.

“And that is also hurting my culture. Most artistes are just playing with music these days and really aren’t trying to improve the sound or the whole creative process around it.”

Omah Lay argued that the desperate rush for profit is rubbing off on younger listeners and rising artists. He warned that this creates a cycle where poor quality and lower standards are becoming the new normal.

“It is just quick money, and it is really dipping the audience and the new generation. That level of music is what they are growing to, and they are even doing worse,” he said.

He admitted that while the global rise of Afrobeats has created massive opportunities for African artists, he suggested that this very fame might be part of the problem, leading to a focus on international appeal over substance.

“I don’t want to blame the globalisation of Afrobeats for that, but that could also be one of the reasons.

“Generally, it is a good thing that Afrobeats is happening in the world, and people are getting to know us from our music. But I just wish we could strive to raise the bar a little more with the craft,” he said.

The "Soso" hitmaker recently revealed that his second album will be titled *Clarity of Mind*.