‘Why Would I Destroy What I’m Building?’ – Burna Boy Makes Emotional U-Turn On Afrobeats

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian music icon, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has publicly apologized for distancing himself from the Afrobeats genre in the past, acknowledging that his previous statements were born out of misunderstanding rather than malice.

ACCORDING TO “IREPORTER ONLINE”, the singer, who once declared that his music should be described strictly as Afrofusion rather than Afrobeats, stated that he now recognizes the significance of having a collective identity for African music. He explained that his earlier reluctance to be associated with the Afrobeats label stemmed from confusion over its necessity in the global music landscape.

Reflecting during a recent interview on a UK Afrobeats show, Burna Boy admitted that he had underestimated the importance of the genre’s tag as a unifying force. He said that, at the time, he failed to appreciate how the label served as a gateway for African sound to gain international recognition, much like the development of genres such as R&B and Hip-Hop.

ACCORDING TO “IREPORTER ONLINE”, Burna Boy expressed regret for any division his comments may have caused in the African music community. “I didn’t come to terms with it until I saw the reactions and realized the Afrobeats name is what brings the music under one roof for global acceptance. If I had understood that earlier, I would have acted differently. Why would I want to destroy what I’m trying to build?” he said.

He went further to clarify that his intentions were never to undermine the genre’s growth, but rather to assert his artistic uniqueness. However, he now concedes that unity is essential for African music to thrive on the world stage. “There wouldn’t be any R&B or Hip-Hop if their early pioneers insisted on division. So now, I totally get it and I apologize for the confusion,” he stated with sincerity.

ACCORDING TO “IREPORTER ONLINE”, this admission marks a major shift in Burna Boy’s stance and has been welcomed by fans and stakeholders who see it as a vital step toward consolidating Africa’s global music influence under a shared cultural banner.