Nigeria’s Grammy Award-winning singer, Damini Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, has stunned fans with a startling revelation about what he might have become if music had not worked out.
In an interaction with one of his followers, the Afrobeats star listed several unusual, and in some cases troubling, alternatives he might have pursued outside of music.
Burna Boy said that without a career as a singer, he could have ended up as an oil thief, a fraudster, a suicide bomber, or even a prostitute. He also mentioned the possibility of becoming a basketball player.
“There are many options,” Burna Boy explained during the exchange. “I could be stealing oil. I could be playing basketball. I could be a fraudster, a suicide bomber, anything, including a prostitute.”
His words, though said with a tone that some fans believe was playful or sarcastic, have stirred reactions online. Many listeners expressed shock, while others argued that the singer was using exaggeration to highlight how uncertain life can be without a clear path.
For Burna Boy, music clearly provided that path. Over the past decade, he has built a reputation as one of Africa’s most successful and influential artists. His rise from Port Harcourt to the global stage has been marked by bold lyrics, genre-bending sounds, and a commanding stage presence that earned him the title “African Giant.”
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His recent achievements show how far he has come. The singer now holds the record as the African artist with the most entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
This milestone came after his latest collaboration with American rapper Gunna entered the prestigious chart. Their joint track, WGFT, from Gunna’s new album The Last Wun, debuted at number 96 on the Hot 100 this week.
That entry raised Burna Boy’s Billboard total to seven songs, a feat no other African artist has achieved. Even more remarkable is the fact that he has managed to debut on the Hot 100 for five consecutive years, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025.
The consistency speaks to his global reach. Burna Boy is no longer only an Afrobeats star; he has become a fixture in the international music scene. His collaborations with global acts, from Beyoncé to Ed Sheeran, and now Gunna, have positioned him at the centre of Afrobeats’ worldwide expansion.
Still, his comments about what might have been if music had failed cast light on the thin line between success and obscurity for many young Africans. Growing up in Port Harcourt, a city known both for its oil wealth and its struggles with crime and unemployment, Burna Boy witnessed firsthand the challenges young men face when opportunities are scarce. Some analysts believe his comments, however provocative, reflect that harsh reality.
Others argue that the artist was using humour and exaggeration to underline his gratitude for where music has brought him. By mentioning extreme and controversial alternatives, Burna Boy may have been reminding fans of the risks he avoided by finding his purpose in music.
Whatever the case, his story remains one of resilience and reinvention. From releasing his breakthrough single Like to Party in 2012, to winning a Grammy in 2021 with Twice As Tall, Burna Boy has proven himself as an artist capable of blending African rhythms with global sounds. His ability to cross boundaries has not only expanded his audience but also reshaped how the world views Afrobeats.
His comments may have shocked many, but they also sparked conversations about choices, environment, and destiny. For millions of his fans, they serve as a reminder that without determination and opportunity, even the most gifted individuals can easily take dangerous paths.
For Burna Boy, music was the lifeline. Today, rather than living the life of a criminal or a drifter, he commands global stages, wins international awards, and continues to put Nigerian music on the world map.
As he celebrates his new Billboard entry, one thing is clear: Burna Boy chose the right path, and the world is listening.
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