Controversy – Why Some Nigerians Are Outraged At Burnaboy

BY OLUWAKEMISOLA ADEBISI

The dust is yet to settle over the recent statement credited to Nigerian popular Afrobeat artiste Burnaboy popularly called African Giant.

He appeared to have stepped on the toes of some Nigerians with his comments

that he is the best artiste in Nigeria, since the late legendary Fela-Anikulapo Kuti.

He had reiterated that nobody in the Nigerian music industry paved the way for him like some Nigerian music enthusiasts had stated, adding that he brought respect to Nigeria with his music.

He posted on his Twitter account @Burnaboy and it reads:

“Everybody they find them own.

I have been out here, If you knew the way they made

 us look weak by begging and paying the western

world to like us, you will see that no table was set

and I’m the one that brought you the respect you

currently enjoy” he tweeted.

The 28 year old artiste, this morning continued from where he started last night, stating that some of the complements he gets from his colleagues are fake, and that most of them are envious, jealous and wants him to fail.

He tweeted this morning on his personal account @Burnaboy and it reads “The same people that wish you the best to your face are the same people that hope and pray you fail, so that they can feel better about themselves, that’s just life. That’s why the complements mean nothing to me, because hate, jealousy and it should have been me are sugarcoated by them” he tweeted.

The Afrobeat crooner, last year was nominated to win a Grammy award for the first time,in the best world music album category alongside Altin Gun, Bokante & Metropole Orkest, Natalie Joachim and Angelique Kidjo.

He lost the award to Beninese music legend, Angelique Kidjo who makes it her fourth win on the category and her fourth GRAMMY win overall.

His comments has had divided opinions amongst music enthusiasts on various social media platforms especially on twitter, as some music lovers are for him, while others are against him.

Recall that last April, Burna Boy was at it, saying that Nigerians, represented the largest number of ‘unprogressive fools.’

The outburst followed his announcment as one of the performers at the 2019 edition of the Coachella festival.

He was not satisfied with the way his name appeard on poster of performers, and this reflected on his reaction on the social, media which further generated outcry on social media.

He particularly complained about the size of the character used in the publicity, thus his use of the expression:  ‘backward unprogressive’ mind state of Nigerians.

”Don’t worry, I know for a fact that my own country,

 NIGERIA is home to the largest number of

backward Unprogressive FOOLS.

I will still fight for them because they are

not mentally advanced enough to fight for

themselves. They will Forever have my

Genuine undying LOVE.

To the few proud Young AFRICAN Intellectuals

who will not conform to whatever bullshit they

are given. you are the Only Hope of AFRICA.

God bless you all.”, he had said, in the tweet which was to be deleted later.