In 2023, Burna Boy real name Damini Ogulu sparked widespread backlash when he said on an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that most Afrobeats music “literally has no substance,” claiming around 90% of songs lacked real-life experience and were about “nothing, just a great time.” His remark divided fans and prompted reactions from fellow musicians and critics.
On July 16, 2025, Burna Boy issued a public apology, explaining that the comment stemmed from a period when he was mentally in “a dark place.” He clarified that calling himself an “Afrofusion” artist was never meant to diss Afrobeats, but to express how his sound didn’t fit into that specific box. He acknowledged Afrobeats as a necessary umbrella genre that helped African artists gain global recognition, and said he now understands “why the tag matters.” Burna Boy concluded: “I apologise for the misunderstanding. We need to stick together.”
The apology marks a turning point following the tensions caused by his initial critique of the genre, which had led to debates across the African music industry and conflict over genre identity.
