Billboard interviews Davido, Mr Eazi and Tiwa Savage

Billboard's issue 9 is titled Africa Now and the feature in which the three Nigerian artists are interviewed is headlined ‘This Isn't a Fad': Three of Africa's Biggest Stars on Making the Industry Come to Them. The issue also look at African music streaming giant Boomplay and how Cape Verde's batuque genre inspired Madonna on her Madame X album.

Written by Gail Mitchell, the Nigeria feature sees the three stars discussing topics like life under quarantine, how they make money, the differences between major and independent labels, Afrobeats as a music genre, and the factors that have played a part in increasing investments in the African music industry.

The article says that the trio is among the top African acts "whose diverse paths through the industry have helped pave the way for other artists – and highlighted just how many possibilities await African talent."

Talking about the factors driving interest in African music, Davido says: "The music is amazing. The feeling you get from Afrobeats and African music is just different. People have always loved African music, but we didn’t have the avenues to go worldwide. Back then, you had to have an African friend or come to Africa to experience it.”

Billboard also mentions international collaborations as a contributing factor to the global popularity of African artists and producers.

"In 2016, Nigeria’s Wizkid topped the Billboard Hot 100 as a collaborator on Drake’s summer smash 'One Dance', which hinted at the possibilities awaiting his peers from the continent," the feature reads. "Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé have fuelled interest in the motherland by curating ambitious, Grammy Award-nominated movie-music projects – Lamar’s Black Panther: The Album and Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift – that put a spotlight on African artists and producers." 

The artists agree that although African music is popular abroad, misconceptions and stereotypes about the continent still exist. 

“It was a lot worse before when people thought we lived in trees," Tiwa Savage says. "That was a big misconception. |But it’s changing as people see pictures via social media when people visit places like Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Nothing beats that experience when somebody lands in Africa. And it depends where in Africa because it’s a continent and not a country.”

Mr Eazi says: "There’s also a general wind of appreciation now for what being African is about. When Davido is singing, he’s talking about things that are very particular to his culture. It’s also the same when Tiwa sings. Everyone is waking up because of what’s happening. It’s not politics that’s bringing people here. It’s the art and young business people.”

The full article is also available online and can be read here.