Keypoints:
- Burna Boy retracts claim Afrobeats lacks substance
- Fans divided over timing and sincerity of apology
- Artist acknowledges genre’s global value and unity
NIGERIAN megastar Burna Boy has issued a rare public apology over past comments that belittled Afrobeats, the genre widely credited for putting African music on the global map.
In an interview with BBC 1Xtra’s Eddie Kadi this week, the Grammy-winning artist acknowledged that his 2023 remarks describing Afrobeats as lacking ‘substance’ were misinformed and divisive.
‘I didn’t understand why everybody wanted my music to be in one box,’ he said. ‘If I understood that we needed an umbrella tag to move forward globally, I would have gone about it differently. I apologise for that confusion.’
‘Mostly about nothing’: The quote that caused chaos
Burna Boy, born Damini Ogulu, sparked fury in 2023 when he told Apple Music: ‘Afrobeats, as you people call it, is mostly about nothing. There’s no substance to it, and nobody is talking about anything. It’s just about having a great time.’
That interview, released just ahead of his seventh studio album I Told Them, ignited a firestorm among fans and artists who felt he was dismissing the very genre that shaped his rise to fame.
While Burna Boy has long branded his sound as Afro-fusion—a blend of Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop—many saw his attack on Afrobeats as hypocritical, given how the genre’s global momentum has bolstered his own success.
Apology splits fans online
Reactions to Burna Boy’s apology have been as loud as the original controversy.
‘You can’t be confused from 2023 to 2025 with the team you have,’ wrote Facebook user John Chibuike Ikokwu Nwakanma. ‘Just allow us enjoy your music. Stop opening old wounds.’
Others, however, saw truth in his past remarks. ‘Commercial Afrobeats lack substance. Just like commercial rap, rock, and pop,’ said Stevie Nii-Adu Mensah, also on Facebook.
Some supporters defended Burna Boy’s identity outside the genre box. On X, Godspower Musa posted: ‘The fact is, he is Afro-fusion, not Afrobeats.’
Still, others welcomed the olive branch. ‘It’s great to see him embracing Afrobeats again! Unity in music is always a win,’ wrote X user Zulfiqar Ali.
From Port Harcourt to Grammy gold
Burna Boy first rose to prominence with the 2012 single Like to Party and has since become one of Africa’s biggest exports. He made history in 2021 when his album Twice as Tall won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album.
He has sold out London Stadium, lit up Madison Square Garden, and topped charts worldwide with hits like Ye, Last Last, and Anybody.
Yet, his journey has been peppered with controversy—from storming off stages to criticising fans. His Afrobeats slur, though, struck a deeper nerve within Africa’s music community.
A lesson in unity
Now, Burna Boy appears to recognise the damage caused by drawing lines within the genre.
‘Genres like R&B and hip hop wouldn’t have gone global if their beginnings were this divided. I now understand we need this Afrobeats tag,’ he told 1Xtra.
For many observers, the apology marks growth. For others, it’s a long-overdue reckoning. But one thing is clear: Burna Boy, never one to shy from controversy, is once again at the heart of a conversation that defines African music’s future.
