'I may not be human but I sing from my soul' - AI divides African musicians

Mya Blue is a new kind of singer who is making headlines in the music industry. Unlike traditional singers, Mya Blue is a virtual artist created by a talented Nigerian musician and producer named Eclipse Nkasi. Mya Blue describes herself as 'not the enemy, I am just a music lover exploring the different sounds of the world. ' This statement is featured on her Instagram account, which has gained attention for its unique approach to music. Mya Blue recently collaborated with Nkasi on a remix of a classic song called Joromi, originally performed by the late Nigerian highlife legend Sir Victor Uwaifo. Together, they aim to address the concerns many musicians have about the impact of artificial intelligence, or AI, on the music industry. Earlier this year, well-known artists like Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj voiced their worries about AI, claiming that it could exploit artists by mimicking their voices without permission. In Africa, where knowledge about AI is still developing, there are fears that this technology could threaten the rich musical heritage of the continent. However, not all African musicians share the same concerns. Many are excited about the potential that AI offers for creativity and innovation. Nkasi believes that the fact that AI is still in its early stages in Africa could be advantageous. He stated, 'There is a huge threat, but just saying: 'Let’s abolish AI' is not going to work. ' Instead, he advocates for finding constructive ways to utilize AI in the music industry. Last year, Nkasi made history by producing Africa's first AI-powered music album, titled Infinite Echoes. He emphasizes that his approach to using AI is intentional and creative, focusing on generating samples rather than replacing human musicians. 'My biggest drive with AI is its application, finding healthy ways to apply it,' he explains. While Nkasi is eager to explore the possibilities of AI, others, like Kenyan musician and producer Tabu Osusa, view it as a potential threat to African culture. Osusa warns that AI could lead to cultural appropriation, where Western companies profit from African sounds without acknowledging their origins. He argues, 'AI will enable recording company moguls in the West to make colossal sums of money while leaving some creatives in African villages to languish in abject poverty. ' This concern stems from the fact that AI can quickly create new music by learning from existing songs, raising questions about ownership and credit. Osusa asks, 'Once you have taken some music from Ghana or Nigeria, who owns that music? ' He believes that AI could facilitate the theft of African music without proper recognition for the original creators. This fear is echoed in a report released by Creatives Garage, a Kenyan arts platform that collaborated with the Mozilla Foundation to study the effects of AI on East African creative communities. The report revealed that many Kenyan musicians are anxious about AI potentially benefiting others at their expense. Bukonola Ngobi, a research consultant at Creatives Garage, noted that some musicians worry that recording traditional sounds for AI to replicate might discourage local artists from learning to play traditional instruments. Osusa emphasizes the spiritual connection that African music has with its people, stating, 'In Africa we mostly don’t study music, we are born with it. We live it. It’s very spiritual. Music in Africa is always alive. ' Despite these concerns, the report also highlighted that for those with access to technology, AI can provide opportunities for creative music development and cost-effective marketing services. However, this does not help emerging artists from poorer communities who may lack the necessary resources to pursue a music career. Ngobi pointed out that if someone does not have a laptop or internet access, they cannot participate in the music industry. Nkasi, the creator of Mya Blue, also faces challenges with AI. He explains that AI often struggles to accurately represent African music. For instance, when he created Mya Blue, the AI generated an image of her as a young American girl with blue hair, which does not reflect African culture. Nkasi sees this as an opportunity for human musicians to fill the gaps that AI cannot. He believes that while AI may not capture the true essence of African music, there is still a place for human creativity. Emmanuel Ogala, another Nigerian musician, sees the potential of AI for Africa. His company uses AI to create detailed archives of the continent's diverse music heritage. He believes that African music is complex and often overlooked. At the MTV Video Music Awards, South African musician Tyla won an award for her hit song Water. During her acceptance speech, she emphasized the diversity of African music, stating, 'African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats. ' Ogala believes that AI can help showcase this diversity and prevent the oversimplification of African music into a single genre. As AI technology continues to evolve, many African musicians agree that there needs to be more investment in the music industry. Ngobi stresses the importance of building a strong data infrastructure to fully leverage the opportunities that AI presents. Ogala also mentions the challenges of securing funding for his AI project, as he and his team have been financing it themselves. They believe that establishing the right foundations will help the music industry in Africa thrive. However, there are still challenges, such as outdated copyright laws that need to be updated for the AI era. Copyright issues are already a significant concern for African artists, as their music is often pirated and sold without compensation. Despite these challenges, there is a growing realization that if the African music industry does not embrace AI, it risks losing control over its talent and cultural heritage. Mya Blue has big dreams, and during a Q&A session on Instagram, she expressed her desire to connect with people through music. She stated, 'As an AI [artist], I don’t dream of trophies, but of resonating with hearts through music. But wouldn’t it be fun to see a virtual artist on that stage?