Burna Boy Reveals He Once Felt More Jamaican Than Nigerian
Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has opened up about a time in his life when he felt a stronger connection to Jamaican culture than his Nigerian roots. Speaking in a recent interview with Capital Xtra in London, the Afro-fusion star reflected on his deep cultural bond with Jamaica that began in his childhood.
According to Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, his father’s love for Jamaican music introduced him early to legendary artists like Super Cat. This influence grew stronger when he moved to Brixton in the UK, where he was surrounded by Jamaican and Caribbean communities.
“Jamaica has always been a part of me—from my dad playing Super Cat and stuff when I was a kid to me ending up in Brixton,” he said. “I considered myself more Jamaican at the time simply because everyone around me was Jamaican and Caribbean.”
He added that during that period, he was rarely around fellow Nigerians. “Even the Africans that were my guys were not Nigerians. They were Gambians, Ugandans, and Congolese. There were only two Nigerians in my crew,” he explained.
Burna Boy described how this environment shaped his sense of identity. He said, “When I go back home to Nigeria, then I’m really a Nigerian. But when I was here, I’m Jamaican.”
Over the years, Burna Boy has openly celebrated Jamaican culture. He has referred to the country as a second home and continues to draw heavy influence from reggae and dancehall in his music. His high-profile relationship with British-Jamaican rapper Stefflon Don from 2019 to 2021 also strengthened his ties to the Jamaican community.
Why did Burna Boy feel more Jamaican than Nigerian at a point in his life?
He said he grew up listening to Jamaican music and spent time in Brixton, UK, where he was mostly surrounded by Jamaicans and Caribbeans, not Nigerians.
Burna Boy’s international sound—a unique fusion of Afrobeat, reggae, and dancehall—reflects his global identity. His ability to blend multiple cultures into his music has earned him fans across the world and continues to redefine what it means to be a modern African artist.
