‘Nigerians don’t believe I’m on the same level as American artists’ – Burna Boy laments

Burna Boy, the Grammy-winning Nigerian artist known by his real name, Damini Ogulu, has expressed frustration over the fact that many of his fellow Nigerians don’t perceive him to be on par with American music icons.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Burna Boy revealed that his upcoming album, titled ‘I Told Them,’ serves as a defiant response to those who have doubted his abilities and success, both in the early stages of his career and presently.

The singer’s sentiments reflect his determination to prove his worth on the global stage and assert his position as a top-tier artist, despite any skepticism or underestimation he may encounter, particularly from his own countrymen.

The self-styled “African Giant” bemoaned how Nigerians often rate up-and-coming American rappers above him.

He said, “To this day, there’s many Nigerians who can tell you an American rapper who just started their career, and they’ll say they’re bigger than Burna Boy. They don’t understand it. They’ll say, ‘There’s no way someone who talks like me, can even be on the same level as an American artist.”

Burna Boy noted that there was a time when American songs dominated the playlists of Nigerian media outlets. However, he highlighted the transformative impact of the Afrobeats genre, which has led to a shift in the musical landscape. Afrobeats has surged in popularity, not only in Nigeria but also globally, thereby contributing to a more balanced representation of both local and international music on Nigerian media platforms.