“We need to take music seriously”- Kwate
Edo State-born Afrobeats artiste, David Cross, popularly known as K’WATE has expressed that Afrobeat stars need to take their music seriously.
He said this while receiving the Best African USA-Based Artist of the Year award at the 2026 African Muzik Magazine Awards ceremony held in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, September 12th.
The Fortune and Fame crooner revealed that artistes should be more consistent with their brand of music until right people come in to push your identity. This is practical example of how my brand reach this milestone in my career.
‘We have to be serious with our arts. This is our time to sell Afrobeat to the world. Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid , Olamide and Asake joined recently on the world map. We need more artistes on board at the international standard’ , Kwate said this while receiving questions from the media at the just concluded African Muzik Magazine Awards.
He added, “To every Afrobeats artiste based in America: stop asking America to take African music seriously when some of us don’t take ourselves seriously.”
Kwate also encouraged upcoming artistes not to depend on external validation.
“Awards don’t build careers. Work does. Don’t wait to be chosen. Choose yourself, build your platform, and let your work make the world notice,” he said.
The singer began his musical journey in Edo State before relocating to Lagos in 1998. His career gained wider attention in 2010 following the release of Party Dey Here, from his debut album, Tami Lorobo.
His recent projects include From Me To You EP and the single, Flower Boy, which continue to attract streams online.
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