Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy has admitted he may have been misunderstood — or even wrong — about his previous controversial comments on Afrobeats, a genre that has taken over global charts in recent years.
In a surprising moment of reflection during a recent interview, the Grammy-winning artist said, “I think I was wrong about how I expressed myself when I spoke about Afrobeats. My intentions weren’t to tear it down — I just wanted more depth in our storytelling.”
This comes months after Burna Boy stirred online debates when he said Afrobeats “lacks substance”, triggering backlash from fans and fellow artists who felt he was dismissing a genre that elevated him to international fame. However, in this new tone, Burna clarified that his criticism was about content, not culture.
“Afrobeats is powerful. It’s our voice to the world. All I was saying is, we need to tell our truths, not just make music for vibes,” he explained.
His acknowledgment has sparked positive reactions, with many applauding his maturity and willingness to clarify. Fellow artist Oxlade praised Burna for “challenging the genre to grow,” while fans on social media described his recent comments as “humble” and “thoughtful.”
Known for his genre-blending style and socially conscious lyrics, Burna Boy has helped push Afrofusion—a mix of Afrobeats, reggae, hip hop, and dancehall—into the global spotlight. Now, by embracing Afrobeats more openly, he’s signaling a renewed commitment to the movement.
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