Veteran Nigerian artist Terry G, whose real name is Gabriel Oche Amanyi, has called on fans to start giving more respect to music legends in Nigeria—even if they’re not as popular as before.

He said it’s sad that Nigerians often look down on artists who are no longer trending. According to him, many people quickly label legends as “outdated,” even though they made major contributions in the past.

Terry G compared the situation to the Western world, where music legends are treated with honor. He said countries like the US give long-term respect to stars, unlike what happens in Africa.

The singer, also known as the Akpako Master, warned that if Africans—especially Nigerians—continue to neglect their legends, Afrobeats may lose its value no matter how popular it is today.

Posting on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, he wrote that it’s painful to hear people say things like “your time has passed,” calling such comments damaging.

Terry G pointed out that in the West, no one ever calls icons like Jay-Z or Beyoncé “outdated.” Instead, people continue to honor them for what they’ve done in music.

He added that many Africans even see their ancestors as evil while they worship Western historical figures. He believes this mindset needs to change.

The artist ended by saying that people must keep adding value to themselves and others. Otherwise, no matter how successful they were, they’ll be forgotten. He urged Nigerians to do better and show more appreciation to those who paved the way in music.