Afrofusion superstar Burna Boy has sent shockwaves through his fanbase and the music world by announcing that the iconic “African Giant” version of himself is “dead.”
The 33-year-old artist, born Damini Ogulu, shared this startling revelation in a post shared on the official Instagram page of his upcoming album, ‘No Sign Of Weakness,’ promotional page, leaving fans puzzled and intrigued about what comes next in his musical journey.
Burna Boy blamed Nigerians for “killing” the old version of him.
The post, published on Wednesday, was cryptic and deeply personal, suggesting a profound shift in his identity and career. Burna Boy explained that the persona linked to his groundbreaking 2019 album African Giant—a title that solidified his place in global music history had been “killed by his own people.”
He revealed that the new and old versions of him are constantly in conflict.
He wrote, “The ‘African Giant’ Burna Boy died. His own people killed him. Then ‘Big 7’ was born to protect what was left of ‘Burna Boy.’
“Burna Boy and Big 7 fight each other a lot because while Big 7 is only protecting the final and only existing piece of Burna Boy’s broken heart, the ‘African Giant’ still haunts Burna Boy.”
Many fans expressed confusion and concern over Burna Boy’s statement. Some questioned the authenticity of his message, while others speculated about the implications for his future music.
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A user on X (formerly Twitter) commented:
“Wetin future get wey Burna never get.”
@Akan also reacted, saying:
“African Giant” was not killed by ‘his people.’ It was suicide. Suicide induced by an abundance of success. After advocating for his people on a successful protest-esque project, Burna Boy’s subsequent ascent into global pop recognition came with a personal realisation that his bread is better buttered away from the complexity of Nigeria.
And so he began a campaign against his people and the culture that birthed him. He called the culture “substance-less,” called the country “a waste of time,” kicked fans at his concerts, and blamed his Nigerian listeners for any inconvenience he’s ever felt. “I’ll rather kill you than die for you…”
He said, to the same people who received him as a local champion, and spurred his elevation to new heights. And now, with the spectre of a new album looming, he’s restricted his listenership to “concert buyers,” backtracked that position with empty loveletters, while still accusing Nigerians of worse; “killing their idol.”
It’s akin to madness and the height of narcissism to erode your goodwill by self-inflicted cuts, while apportioning causality to your victims. You cut yourself and bled on Nigerians. And when we protested, you called us poor.
Burna Boy might have lived once as the people’s champ, but ever since the world opened up to him, he’s put his country on his chopping block, and pulled every available dagger in his arsenal. And with each delivered cut to his Africans, the African Giant has also bled himself out. Suicide. A self-killing, induced by the madness of success.”