*Nigerian rapper Burna Boy has addressed his recent controversial remarks about Black Americans being removed from African culture after it was interpreted among some folks as him saying that Black people in America have no culture, period.
The controversy was sparked in March during an interview with activist and iHeartAfrica founder Chakabars Clarke, who asked the artist, “Why is it important for the diaspora to come home?”
“You know why? OK, let’s use America,” Burna said. “Why do you think the Chinese Americans has their respect? They don’t go through the things that African Americans go through. Even though they might go through their struggles, I’m not taking anything away from them.”
He continued, “But, they don’t go through what the African-Americans go through. You know why? Because the Chinese American has a base. He actually knows where he’s from in China. You understand? Italian-Americans, they know where their grandparents came from in Italy… Same goes for everyone else except African-Americans.”
The backlash over those comments were brought up during a recent interview with Complex’s “360 With Speedy Morman” series.
“Your whole career, you’ve always preached unity and bringing Black people together, but there’s one quote that’s been inescapable for you at this point, and everybody says that you once said or alluded to Black Americans not having any culture,” said Mormon. The host mentioned fans who were also confused by Burna’s attire in a viral clip from his upcoming music video.
“So they were like, wait a second. Why is he wearing shoes that look like Tims and sampling an American song if Black Americans have no culture?”
Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu MFR, told Mormon his lone task is to bring people together.
“At the end of the day, I’m still going to do my job. I’m still going to do what my mission is,” Burna replied. “And my mission is to bring us together, you know what I mean? My mission is to build a bridge that can’t be broken, a bridge that, that should’ve always been there. Do you know what I mean? So, for me, that’s not really relevant. I don’t really look at none of that because everyone, I feel like when people say that, they have their own agendas.”
He claims he never said that “Black people have no culture,” but added his words were no different than what Malcolm X or Louis Farrakhan has said.
“Show me the part where I said that,” Burna continued. “There’s nothing I said that Malcolm X didn’t say. There’s nothing I said that Louis, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan didn’t say. Do you know what I mean? But, obviously, it’s Burna Boy saying it and he’s from Africa, and, you know what I mean? It fits the agenda for your little group or whatever, you understand.”
Burna said that’s “All that’s beneath” him, noting that “my mission and my movements are too divine for stupid s—t like that.”
“I’m really glad you asked that question,” he added. “People are really stupid. People are really, really dumb.”
Watch below:
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