Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has finally addressed the backlash that followed his previous statement claiming he doesn’t make “Afrobeats,” a remark that ignited heated debates within the music community and among fans worldwide.
In a recent podcast interview, the Last Last hitmaker offered clarity, revealing that his intent was never to downplay Afrobeats or its cultural importance.
Instead, he explained that from the onset of his career, he had deliberately coined his sound “Afrofusion” to reflect its unique blend of genres, influences, and experiences.
“When I came back home and started making music, I called it Afrofusion. Why? Because what I was creating was different. There was no proper space for it at the time,” Burna Boy said.
He pointed out that lumping all African music under the Afrobeats label led to a misrepresentation of diverse musical identities, particularly his own.
“It was like they were forcing it. Like, why must everything I do be tagged as Afrobeats?” he questioned. “I’ve always said it’s Afrofusion.”
To illustrate his point, he used a vivid analogy:
“It’s like calling both Kendrick Lamar and Socrates the same thing just because they rhyme. One is a rapper, one is a philosopher. They are both speaking, but it’s not the same thing.”
However, Burna Boy acknowledged a shift in perspective. He admitted that he once failed to grasp the strategic importance of the “Afrobeats” label in unifying African artists on the global stage.
Drawing parallels with the evolution of Hip Hop, he explained that genre classification played a vital role in gaining worldwide recognition.
“I didn’t understand that for us to get anywhere, we needed that umbrella. Like how Hip Hop had to first be accepted as Hip Hop before trap and other sub-genres emerged.”
In a moment of humility, Burna Boy issued a public apology:
“I get it now. And I apologise for the misunderstanding. We need to stick together. The tag matters more than I realized.”
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