Nigerian Popstar Teni Says Artists Are Choosing Clout Over Craft

Nigerian singer Teni has blamed the perceived decline in quality of music production on artists prioritising social media relevance over artistic growth.

Speaking during an interview on Beat 99.9FM, the singer addressed issues facing the industry, that Nigerian music may be going through one of its weakest creative periods, especially when compared with the generation of performances such as Plantashun Boiz, Sound Sultan and P-Square.

In Teni’s opinion, the issue is not a lack of talent or access to resources. Instead, she argued that many artists have shifted their attention from developing their craft to chasing online validation and popularity.

Her comments came after the interviewer raised concerns about declining lyrical quality and the increasing similarity in sound across contemporary Nigerian music, despite today’s artists having greater access to production tools and digital platforms.

Teni’s remarks have added fresh momentum to an already active conversation within the entertainment industry, with many fans and critics questioning whether commercial pressure and social media culture are gradually overshadowing originality and artistry in Afrobeats and Nigerian pop music.