Nigerian global superstar Burna Boy has publicly apologised for his controversial comments distancing himself from Afrobeats. In a recent interview on The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi, the Grammy-winning artist expressed regret over his 2023 remarks, where he claimed Afrobeats lacked substance.
At the time, Burna Boy’s comments sparked widespread backlash, particularly from fans and fellow artists who felt the statement undermined the genre’s global impact and cultural significance. Speaking with Eddie Kadi, Burna Boy offered clarity on the intent behind his statement and acknowledged how his understanding of the genre’s broader role has evolved.
“I didn’t realize we needed Afrobeats tag as an umbrella to go to anywhere. I totally get it now and I apologize for that confusion”
— OLAMIDE (@Olamide0fficial) July 15, 2025
– Burna Boy apologizes for saying Afrobeats lacks substance pic.twitter.com/4OGSFCR0KN
He explained that he originally chose to describe his sound as Afro-fusion because he felt it didn’t quite fit into the traditional mold of Afrobeats. “It was as if there was almost no place for it at home, and I had to create my own space,” he said.
However, Burna Boy admitted that at the time, he didn’t fully grasp that Afrobeats wasn’t just a genre, it was an umbrella term that unified and propelled Nigerian music on a global scale. “I didn’t understand that we needed an umbrella term for what we were doing to actually get somewhere,” he shared. “If I understood this, I would have gone about it differently because why would I want to destroy what I’m building?”
He went on to apologise for the confusion and division his comments caused, saying, “I apologise for the confusion.” His remarks now reflect a deeper appreciation of Afrobeats not just as a sound, but as a movement helping to advance African music worldwide.
The apology comes at a pivotal time for Burna Boy, who recently released his eighth studio album No Sign of Weakness. The album features global heavyweights like Mick Jagger, Travis Scott, and Stromae, and has already surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify.
Burna Boy is also preparing to embark on a world tour across North America and Europe, where he’ll be performing at iconic venues and continuing to push the boundaries of African music on the world stage.
The full interview with Eddie Kadi is now available on streaming platforms.
