Afrobeats, or as some call it, mostly lacks depth and substance.” – Burna Boy 👀

Grammy award-winning Nigerian artist, Damini Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, has stirred up discussions among netizens due to his recent critique of Afrobeats.

During an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Burna Boy expressed his viewpoint that many Afrobeat musicians lack authentic life experiences, leading to a void in their music. He emphasized that artists should draw from their own highs, lows, struggles, and moments of creation to infuse depth into their artistry.

The self-proclaimed African Giant emphasized the importance of incorporating genuine life experiences into musical creations, debunking the notion that the genre is purely superficial.

Burna Boy shared:

“Considering where I come from, the challenges I face while navigating through life with my crown held high, it’s tougher for those who know you well to truly love you the most because they don’t fully know you. You might think they do.

As you venture around the world and realize that there are people who understand you better than those who share similar experiences… about 90 percent of them [Nigerian musicians] lack authentic life experiences. That’s why a lot of Nigerian music, African music, or what people refer to as Afrobeats, mostly lacks substance – literally nothing.

That’s why much of Nigerian music, or Afrobeats, as it’s called, often lacks depth. There’s no meaningful content in it. It’s just about having a good time, which is fantastic. But at the end of the day, life isn’t always a fantastic time.

Regardless of how joyful the present moment is or has been, or how you plan for it to be, life has its challenges. Speaking for myself, as an artist, I experience good days, bad days, great days, and even the worst of days.

For me, music should embody the artist’s essence – reflecting their ups, downs, triumphs, and tribulations. An artist is someone who goes through it all. I’m preparing to release a project that provides fans a glimpse into those experiences.”

Watch his thoughts in the video below.