Afrobeats star Burna Boy has claimed that powerful figures in Nigeria’s music industry made repeated efforts to hold him back early in his career.
The Grammy-winning artist made this bold statement while responding to a video that went viral online. The clip featured veteran music executive Obi Asika, who stated in a recent interview that certain gatekeepers within the Nigerian music industry had tried to stop Burna Boy’s rise.
Despite their efforts, Asika said, Burna Boy managed to bypass them and achieve international success on his terms.
Burna Boy reacts on Instagram
The afrobeat star didn’t hold back when reacting to the video. Commenting under a blog post on Instagram that shared the clip, he said:
“This is not even half of the story. They did everything they possibly could to break me. They are still trying their best. Lol. But all they did was create this unquenchable fire that will continue to burn them for eternity.”
The comment quickly caught attention, sparking conversations among fans and industry observers. Many praised Burna Boy’s resilience, while others expressed shock at the idea that major players in the Nigerian music industry could try to stop one of their own from growing.
A rocky rise to fame
The grammy-winner, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, first gained national recognition in 2012 with the release of Like to Party, a catchy track off his debut album L.I.F.E (Leaving an Impact for Eternity).
The song quickly made him a household name in Nigeria’s music scene. However, the journey that followed was far from smooth.
In the years that followed his early success, Burna Boy found himself pushed to the margins. Despite his talent and a loyal fan base, he was often overlooked in mainstream spaces.
Some critics labelled him difficult to work with, while others claimed he lacked the commercial appeal of other rising stars. Behind the scenes, Burna Boy says, it was even worse.
Breakthrough with ‘Ye’
Although he faced setbacks at home, he kept working. He refined his sound, blended genres, and continued to release music that connected with audiences. Then came the turning point: the release of Ye in 2018, a standout track from his third studio album Outside.
The song became an international hit, boosted in part by a happy accident, as many fans who searched for Kanye West’s Ye stumbled upon Burna Boy’s version instead. What started as a coincidence quickly turned into global exposure.
With Ye, he found the global stage that had eluded him in Nigeria. From there, his career exploded. He went on to release a string of successful albums, perform on major stages, and tour across Europe, North America, and beyond.
His 2020 album Twice as Tall earned him a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album, cementing his status as one of Africa’s most important musical exports.
Homecoming and recognition
Ironically, the success that had once seemed out of reach brought him back into the spotlight at home. Nigerian music fans who had once overlooked him began embracing him again. Radio stations, blogs, and music heads that once ignored his work now couldn’t get enough.
A star who won’t be silenced
In recent years, Burna Boy has become the most consistently touring African artist, selling out venues from Paris to New York. His fiery style, powerful lyrics, and outspoken personality have won him a global fan base.
Despite the recognition, Burna Boy hasn’t forgotten the obstacles he faced or the people who tried to silence him.
“The fire they tried to kill,” he wrote, “is now the same fire that burns brighter every day.”
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