Award-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy has offered a public clarification and apology over his past criticism of Afrobeats, stating that his controversial comments stemmed from a desire to define his sound as Afro-fusion rather than dismiss the genre.
Speaking during an interview on The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi, the Grammy-winning artist said he now understands the importance of Afrobeats as a unifying term that has helped push Nigerian music to global prominence.
Burna Boy admitted that his earlier comments, where he claimed Afrobeats lacked lyrical substance, were misinterpreted and came from a limited understanding of the genre’s broader impact.
“I described my music as Afro-fusion because it felt like there was no space for it back home, so I had to carve my own niche,” he explained. “I didn’t understand then why everyone wanted my music in a single box. I didn’t know we needed an umbrella term to take our music forward globally. If I had understood that, I would’ve approached it differently.
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He continued, “Why would I want to destroy what I’m building? I apologise for the confusion.”
The artist’s 2023 statement on Apple Music’s Zane Lowe Show, where he said Afrobeats lacked depth, sparked backlash across social media platforms and from fans worldwide.
Burna Boy has acknowledged that Afrobeats serves a much bigger purpose for African music and culture, and expressed a renewed commitment to unity within the community.
“I realise the role Afrobeats has played in putting all of us on the map. I respect that now more than ever,” he concluded.