Burna Boy, who has over time described his type of music as Afro-fusion, said foreigners appreciated him more.
Nigerian Afrobeat music is “nothing,” and lacks “substance,” Grammy Award winner Burna Boy says.
Speaking about his upcoming album, “I Told You,” on Apple Music on Tuesday, Burna Boy said the new album is for everyone who has doubted him, especially in Nigeria, his home country.
Asked why it is harder for people who know him best to love him most, Burna Boy, who has over time described his type of music as Afro-fusion, said foreigners appreciated him more.
“When you realise that when you start going around the world, you start seeing motherfuckers that know me a lot better than those people I share…” he said, as his interviewer cuts in, saying, “experience.”
“Not even experience,” said Burna Boy. “Ninety per cent of them have no real-life experience, which is why you hear most of Nigerian music, or I will say African music, the Afrobeats as most people call it, is mostly about nothing. Literally nothing. There is no substance to it.”
The artiste added, “Like nobody is talking about anything. It is just about a great time. An amazing time. But at the end of the day, life is not an amazing time.”
Afrobeat is a genre of music pioneered in the 1960s by the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who used his to deplore oppressive military rule and promote human rights.
Throughout the years, artistes such as Eedris Abdulkareem, Sound Sultan, Afrikan China, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, and Falz, among others, have skillfully harnessed Afrobeat, using it as a foundation to delve into various sub-genres that shed light on real-life events.
Speaking further, Burna Boy emphasised that music should reflect who artistes are and the values they represent.
“Music should encapsulate the essence of the artiste,” he conveyed to the interviewer while elaborating on his points.
While some have faulted the singer for criticising a music genre he’s part of, others have praised him for raising a valid argument.
“Dear Burna Boy, there’s no need to belittle others’ creative work simply because you’ve carved your path using samples,” @_AsiwajuLerry expressed on X, formerly Twitter.
“Calling it ‘Afrobeats or whatever they call it’ seems like he’s pandering to the Western media and seeking controversy to promote his album. This comes from someone who relied on Fela’s samples for 80% of his songs. Davido and Wizkid would never resort to such trash-talking,” @ManLikeIcey noted.
Meanwhile, another user, @Ajebo_Hustlers, remarked that the singer was right: “Feel free to be angry with Burna all you want! But it doesn’t change the fact that a lot of your favourites produce music with little substance.”
Burna Boy has harnessed the Afrobeats movement to establish himself as one of Nigeria’s and the continent’s most recognisable artistes on the global stage.
The self-proclaimed ‘African Giant’ has garnered numerous accolades, most notably the prestigious 63rd Grammy Awards, which further solidified his prominence in the global Afrobeat genre.
He secured the Best Global Music Album award for his internationally acclaimed ‘Twice As Tall’ album, marking his inaugural Grammy win.
In a recent milestone, he became the first African artiste to achieve a sold-out stadium event in the United States. This achievement was a testament to his contributions to Afrobeats. In July, he filled the 41,000-capacity Citi Field Stadium in NYC, USA.
