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Zlatan Ibile Opens Up on Fallout With Burna Boy, Unfollowed Him on Instagram Ahead of New Album Release
Nigerian rapper Zlatan Ibile, born Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael, has finally broken his silence on what led to the end of his friendship with Grammy-winning superstar Burna Boy.
The two were once inseparable, often spotted together at shows and private events. Their collaboration on Burna Boy’s hit song “Killin Dem” from the 2019 album African Giant remains one of the biggest Afrobeats crossovers of that year. But in recent times, their bond has noticeably faded; the pair no longer follow each other on social media, sparking endless rumours of a rift.
As Zlatan gears up to release his highly anticipated third studio album, Symbol of Hope (SOH), on Friday, October 17, 2025, new details surrounding the end of their bromance have resurfaced, stirring conversations among fans and industry watchers.
According to Zlatan, their friendship began to sour shortly after he welcomed his first child, Shiloh Toluwalase, on March 29, 2020, with his baby mama Davita Lamai.
At the time, Zlatan was still rising in the industry and had excitedly reached out to Burna Boy to share the joyful news. But instead of receiving the warm congratulations he expected, Burna’s reaction took him by surprise.
Zlatan revealed on Instagram that Burna Boy responded by questioning his readiness for fatherhood, reportedly saying:
“I told @burnaboygram that my girl had a child, instead of congrats, he told me if I knew what I was doing.”
The unexpected response, Zlatan said, created an emotional distance between them, eventually leading to the quiet collapse of their friendship.
See the post below:
These days, Zlatan seems to share a closer bond with Davido, who has publicly shown support for his career.
Meanwhile, Zlatan’s son Shiloh, now five years old, recently made an adorable appearance in a promotional clip for the rapper’s upcoming album. In the post, Zlatan captioned it:
“ME & MY SON 😊 7Questions about #SOHTHEALBUM.”
With Symbol of Hope on the way, Zlatan appears ready to turn the page, channeling his experiences, including this emotional chapter with Burna Boy, into new music that promises to be as heartfelt as it is powerful.
Watch the clip below:
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