Grammy award-winner, Damini Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy, has riled up social media with his negative comment about Afrobeats.
In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the ‘Last Last’ hit-maker asserted that 90 percent of Afrobeat songs which is mostly domiciled in Nigeria lacks substance and real-life experience.
The self-proclaimed ‘African Giant’ who noted that the genre is “literally nothing,” spoke about the need for artistes to embody real-life experiences of their songs.
Burna Boy said, “Because of where I am from. The sh*t I have to go through to maneuver and just stay with my crown on my head. (It is harder for people that know you best to love you the most). Because they do not know you best. You just think they do.”
“When you start going around the world and you start seeing that there are actually motherf**kers that know me a lot than the people that share the same (not experience)… because 90 per cent of them [Nigerian musicians] have no real life experiences which is why most of Nigerian music or African music or afrobeats as people call it, is mostly about nothing, literally nothing.” He added.
“It is why you hear most of Nigerian music or Afrobeats as people call it, is mostly about nothing. Literally nothing. There is no substance to it. Like nobody is talking about anything. It is just a great time. It is an amazing time. But at the end of the day, life is not an amazing time.”
Meanwhile, he has since faced backlash on Twitter for the controversial statement as many fans expressed disappointment.
Notable African music superstars have also weighed in on Burna Boy’s statement. Pheelz, a music artist and producer, came to social media to express his thoughts on Burna Boy’s comments, and he expressed his displeasure about it.
No substance? Hmmm 😞💔
— Pheelz🐘🤟🏾 (@Pheelz) August 22, 2023
