‘I may not be human but I sing from my soul’ – AI divides African musicians

Mya Blue, a virtual AI singer created by Nigerian musician Eclipse Nkasi, aims to calm fears about AI’s impact on the music industry.

While some artists, like Billie Eilish, criticize AI for stealing voices, Nkasi believes the technology offers opportunities for African musicians, despite challenges such as limited data and potential cultural appropriation.

Critics, like Kenyan musician Tabu Osusa, warn that AI could exploit African music without proper credit.

However, some see AI as a tool to preserve and diversify African music heritage.

As the industry faces copyright and infrastructure challenges, there is growing recognition that embracing AI is key to securing Africa's musical future.