Burna Boy Embraces Afrobeats, Apologizes for Past Comments, and Shines with New Album

Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has publicly apologized for his controversial 2023 remarks distancing himself from Afrobeats, acknowledging the genre's crucial role in the global music movement. The artist, fresh off the release of his eighth studio album, No Sign of Weakness, and a performance at Wireless Festival, addressed the backlash from an Apple Music interview where he claimed Afrobeats "lacks substance" and that many artists "had almost no real-life experiences."

A Change of Heart and an Apology

Speaking with BBC 1Xtra’s Eddie Kadi, Damini Ebunolu Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, explained that he was in a "dark place mentally" when he made those initial statements. He has since come to appreciate the unifying power of the Afrobeats label in advancing African music on the world stage.

"I didn’t understand why people wanted my music to be inside one box," he shared. "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."

With newfound clarity, Burna Boy has fully embraced the genre, issuing a sincere apology: "I got the point of the Afrobeats tag in that moment. I totally get it and I apologise for that confusion."

Carrying the Afrobeats Torch

Despite his signature genre-blurring sound—a vibrant fusion of Afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, hip hop, and R&B—Burna Boy expressed contentment in carrying the Afrobeats torch. "I learnt to embrace the fact that I will always be different," he told Kadi. "I’m not going to be the favourite, but I’m going to be the best."

"No Sign of Weakness" and a Legendary Collaboration

No Sign of Weakness sees Burna Boy confidently leaning into this evolved identity. One of the album's standout tracks, “Empty Chairs,” features none other than Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. This collaboration, Burna says, was deeply personal. "Mick Jagger is the rock star," he explained. "I felt he, out of everyone in the world, would understand where I was coming from with this song lyrically, and he did."

The 81-year-old Jagger's involvement added a rock legend's stamp of approval to Burna's artistic vision. "Working with him was one of the best experiences I’ve had," Burna concluded, highlighting the profound impact of the collaboration.

Credit photo: From Burna Boy's Intagram Account / majamoan / nickieleerose