Showbiz News
-
-
-
Loading
Loading
Burna Boy has spoken out to apologise for his controversial comments about Afrobeats, admitting they came from a place of frustration and unhappiness.
The Nigerian superstar, whose rise to global fame has made him one of Africa’s biggest musical exports, first sparked outrage back in 2023 when he suggested that Afrobeats, the genre most closely associated with his career, was “devoid of any deeper meaning.”
Speaking at the time to Zane Lowe on Apple Music, Burna Boy criticised the genre for what he perceived as a lack of substance, saying he wanted to distance himself from the label. The remarks divided fans, with some agreeing that the sound had become overly commercialised, while others accused him of disrespecting the culture that helped launch his career.
Two years on, however, the Last Last hitmaker has reflected on his mindset during that period and expressed regret over his words.
“I was in a dark place mentally”
In a new interview this week, Burna Boy explained that his comments came during a particularly unhappy time in his personal life.
“I didn’t understand why people wanted my music to be inside one box,” he said, explaining his frustration at being labelled solely as an Afrobeats artist.
He compared the situation to reducing the complexity of artists by genre alone:
“The way I saw it, if you just put everything into Afrobeats, you’re now comparing Socrates to Kendrick Lamar because they both said two things that rhyme so they both must be rappers,” he explained, noting that this kind of thinking doesn’t give artists the space to express their individuality.
Reflecting on the now-infamous 2023 Apple Music interview, he added:
“That was me in a dark place mentally. I was not the happiest man in the world at that time, and I didn’t handle things in the best way.”
An African pioneer
Burna Boy made history in 2023 by becoming the first African artist to headline a stadium show in the UK, a moment many viewed as a triumph for Afrobeats globally. He has since gone on to work with some of the biggest names in music, blending his signature sound with hip-hop, dancehall and R&B influences.
Fans have welcomed his recent apology, with many praising him for his honesty and growth. One fan commented on social media: “We all make mistakes. Respect to Burna for owning up and recognising the culture he comes from.”
As he continues to evolve as an artist, Burna Boy’s story remains a powerful reminder of the personal struggles even global stars face, and the importance of speaking one’s truth while still respecting one’s roots.
