Damini Ogulu, also known as Burna Boy, is a renowned Nigerian superstar whose name is constantly entangled with controversies.
While Burna Boy is undoubtedly a gifted musician, his career, however, has been marred with numerous controversies.
Burna Boy, like his American counterpart, Kanye West is inseparable from controversy. You might not be wrong if you refer to it as his second nature.
The singer’s moniker has actually been linked to controversy in the past, but the self-described African Giant could care less what people think of him.
Burna Boy has been courting controversy with his statements and deeds since his contentious ‘tribute’ appearance at the 2013 Felabration, which drew the ire of the late Afrobeat legend’s family.
Today, we will examine several instances in which the music superstar has been embroiled in serious controversies.
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Mr. 2Kay’s near-death experience at the Eko Hotel
One of the most talked-about scandals in Nigerian entertainment a few years ago was the attack on musician Mr 2kay by some hoodlums in Eko hotel.
Trouble began for 2kay when he lambasted Burna Boy over a tweet. Burna Boy immediately responded with a threat.
Mr 2kay was robbed and beaten to a pulp following the “Buckwyld N Breathless” event at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Sunday, October 22, 2017.
Four suspects were detained following the event, and they later admitted to the robbery and attack of Mr. 2Kay, including his road manager, Joel.
During interrogation, the robbers admitted to being hired by Burna Boy.
The police then declared Burna Boy wanted over the incident. Burna Boy was later arraigned in court over the crime.
Both singers finally put the feud behind them in 2021. A video of the two PH singers hanging out together was shared online.
Coachella and saga of the font
in 2019, when the singer called out the organisers of the annual music and arts festival for printing his name on the poster of the event in small letters.
According to him, he represents a whole generation of solid African creatives globally and therefore, deserves to be given a prominent space on the poster.
Burna reiterated that he is an ‘’African Giant’ who wouldn’t be reduced to whatever the tiny writing meant while urging the organisers to fix things quickly.
Expectedly, the singer’s outburst triggered reactions from his fans, forcing the organisers to effect a correction on the poster by enlarging his name.
This incident inspired the title of his first Grammy-nominated album, “African Giant” which was released in 2019.
Alleged fight with Davido in Ghana
Nigerians awoke in December 2020 to reports of an alleged altercation between Burna Boy and Davido in a bar in Ghana.
According to several reports, the two music stars got into a scuffle after Burna Boy moved to the club where Davido was partying.
Many eyewitnesses gave several reports as to what transpired at the club that night. Some said the fight broke out after Davido’s men tried to prevent Burna Boy from entering the club
It came as no surprise when it was reported that the two singers actually got physical at the club because it was well known that they did not get along too well.
Clash with CDQ
In March 2021, rapper CDQ called Burna Boy out for disrespecting former Nigerian international footballer Obafemi Martins and for being associated with people that attacked him.
Burna Boy and his group were at Quilox, an exotic club on Victoria Island in Lagos, on the evening of February 28. That evening, Martins and his group were also present at the club.
Then, a brawl started between businessman Rahman Jago, a well-known Burna Boy associate, and another person.
Martins’ camp was impacted since the problem grew so big. They clashed with the former Super Eagles player and his camp because of Jago’s connections to Burna Boy.
Martins himself got physically involved and in the heat of the moment, the footballer had to defend himself and found a way to escape the drama and the danger of it.
A bemused CDQ, who was also at the club on the night, vented at Burna Boy on social media. He felt Burna Boy’s camp had disrespected Martins, a respected footballer and philanthropist.
Bole and Fish saga
Burna Boy and his team were called out on social media by a Bole and Fish vendor who accused them of not paying after she brought the delicacy to them in London.
Recall that Burna used social media to offer a sizable reward to anyone who could provide him PH-style fish and bole in London.
The seller contacted his group and ultimately delivered. She did, however, mention that she was never compensated for it.
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The Cubana shooting
Burna was once more accused of instigating a shooting at Cubana Nightclub in May 2022.
After multiple witnesses described what transpired, one of the victims involved offered her account of what happened.
According to the victim, Briella Neme, they were visiting Nigeria from the United States of America and the United Kingdom for a friend’s wedding.
Briella described how Burna Boy’s men approached her three times and asked her to meet him.
She claimed that as a result, her friends and Burna Boy’s crew got into an altercation. However, the security staff at the club quickly put a stop to it.
Things took a different turn when Burna Boy’s friends started a fight again and started shooting. She alleged that Burna Boy gave the green light to his security to start shooting at them in the club while he laughed about it.
Briella while recounting what happened said within a split second there was chaos in the club. Her partner and friend were shot in the head and leg respectively.