Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has opened up once again about his turbulent journey to the top, following new comments by music exec Obi Asika. Speaking on the Afropolitan Podcast, Asika revealed that Burna Boy once struggled to even get a free performance slot largely because he wasn’t Lagos-based.
“This same Burna Boy that’s a million dollars plus today, they be blocking him,” Asika said, adding, “He’s from Port Harcourt, not Lagos, so they be blocking him. Now, he can’t be blocked anymore.”
Burna Boy responded with a fiery statement, claiming that Asika’s account barely scratched the surface:
“This is not even half of the story. They did everything they possibly could to break me. They are even still trying their best lol. But all they did was create this unquenchable FIRE that will continue to burn them for eternity.”
The singer has long expressed disdain for the Nigerian music industry, alleging blacklisting by media and insiders early in his career. This ongoing tension, many believe, explains his frequent criticism of the industry and his decision to mostly operate from the global stage.
Asika’s comments have stirred renewed conversation about gatekeeping in the Nigerian music scene, especially against talents who rise from outside Lagos.
Burna Boy’s journey from blocked artist to global Afrobeats icon continues to inspire, even as he makes it clear: the fire they tried to extinguish only made him stronger.
