Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has issued a public apology for his previous comments criticising Afrobeats, clarifying that his statements were never meant to undermine the genre but rather to define his unique Afro-fusion sound.
During an interview on The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi, which began trending on Tuesday, the Afro-fusion star addressed the backlash that followed his controversial remarks, where he once claimed Afrobeats “lacked lyrical depth.”
“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.
Burna Boy acknowledged that his earlier comments were misunderstood and came from a limited perspective. He admitted he did not fully grasp the importance of presenting African music under a unifying banner at the time.
“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,” he said.
The singer, who faced heavy criticism in 2023 following his remarks on Apple Music’s Zane Lowe Show, now recognises Afrobeats as a powerful force in promoting African culture on the global stage.
“Why would I want to destroy what I’m building? I apologise for the confusion,” Burna Boy stated.
He concluded with a renewed expression of respect for Afrobeats:
“I realise the role Afrobeats has played in putting all of us on the map. I respect that now more than ever.”
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