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Did Akon Really Say That? Nigerians Dispute His Afrobeats Claim

Senegalese-American singer Akon has sparked controversy after claiming he played a pivotal role in the rise of Afrobeats, the globally acclaimed music genre that originated in West Africa.

In an interview with American talk show host Sherri Shepherd, Akon suggested that his work in Nigeria in the late 2000s, citing early collaborations in the late 2000s with Nigerian acts like Wizkid, PSquare, and D'banj, and producing music, laid the foundation for what is now known as Afrobeats.

However, many Nigerians on social media have criticized his remarks as exaggerated and historically inaccurate, accusing him of attempting to rewrite the genre's history. 

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Akon Lighting Africa Project

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