Fela was a big Influence on me - Burnaboy

Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar, Burna Boy, has stirred controversy after claiming that Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti never inspired him, despite being widely celebrated as one of Fela’s musical successors.

Speaking in a recent conversation with tennis legend Roger Federer, Burna Boy admitted that while Fela had a “big influence” on his formative years, he would not describe him as an inspiration.

Fela was a big Influence on me - Burnaboypic.twitter.com/Th0iV0xyQm

— Yorùbáness (@Yorubaness) September 25, 2025

The African Giant crooner revealed that the very first album he owned was R&B star Joe’s record, which he got as a gift for his 10th birthday.

He added that Fela’s music came into his life through his grandfather, Benson Idonije , who was Fela’s first manager, but insisted it didn’t shape his artistic direction

Burna Boy also mentioned that Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III and Tupac’s Makaveli album were the records that truly defined his childhood.

When Federer pressed him to name which of those albums impacted him the most, Burna Boy bluntly replied:

“Honestly, none. Fela was a big influence, but he didn’t inspire me.”

The comment has left many fans in shock, given that Burna Boy has repeatedly sampled Fela’s music in hit songs such as Ye, My Money, My Baby, and Gbona.