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Award winning Nigerian artiste, Burna Boy, in his usual controversial style, has made some comments about Afrobeats that have irked stakeholders and music fans across the country.
Afrobeats is a term used by the Western media to describe pop music made by West African music stars, especially from Nigeria.
The genre has continued to gain global fame with the likes of Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Asake, Rema, Tems, among others, recording global success with the genre and they continue to sell out concert venues in Europe and America.
In a recent interview with Apple Music the grammy winner said – “afrobeat is nothing”.
He explained that he believed music should be the ‘essence of an artiste’, capturing the different parts and phases of the artiste’s life, but the afrobeat genre had no such substance.
He went on to say that 90% of Nigerian artistes had no real life experiences and that that was why most Nigerian music is about nothing.
The statement has sparked a wave of reactions from the public, especially music enthusiasts.
Joey Akan said, “Whenever Burna Boy has to sell a new album to a foreign, Westernised market, he finds a divisive narrative to bestow him exceptionalism in a market that does not know his backstory or lack proper context to process his (censored). He cannibalises his people for strangers who are yet to fully commit to him.”
Motolani Alake, a music executive, also said in an open message to Burna Boy, “It’s you that will diss Afrobeats. The same you will diss African-American culture. But you’re abiding by the tenets of both genres. And don’t even say he doesn’t care, he does. He released a statement when he was pressured about #EndSARS.”
But this is not the first time Burna’s controversial figure would evoke reactions from the public.
In 2021, when he had a four-day feud with Ghanaian musician, Shatta Wale, the grammy winner challenged the Ghanaian rapper to a one-on-one duel.
On Tuesday, August 23, 2022, Burna had a run-in with Wizkid’s fandom, FC, accusing the fans of being delusional.
Meanwhile, Burna Boy is set to release his new album, ‘I Told Them’, on Friday, August 25, 2023.
The post ’Afrobeat Lacks Substance’ – Burna Boy Shakes The Industry With Another Controversial Comment appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
