Nigerian Singer Burna Boy Says That Fela Kuti Is The Only African singer Greater Than Him

Nigerian Grammy-Award singer, Burna Boy, reckons that Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti, is the only African artist greater than him. The Rapper, song writer and music producer whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu made the claim during a recent livestream with popular Australian streamer, Playboymax.

“He [Fela Kuti] is the king. He is the only one [African artist] who is greater than me. He is the only one,” Burna maintains.

 Burna gained recognition in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, he signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and its parent company Warner Music Group. His third studio album Outside, which became his major label debut, was released in 2018.

Burna, 34, have won several music awards including Best International Act at the BET awards, his album African Giant won Album of the Year at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2020,he won African Artist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards, and released his fifth studio album Twice as Tall, which won Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He won Best International Act at the 2021 BET Awards for the third time.

In October 2022, The singer from Port Harcourt whose maternal grandfather Benson Idonije once managed Fela Kuti was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic plaque for his achievements in music. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him number 197 on its list of the 200 greatest singers of all time.

He briefly dated British rapper Stefflon Don from 2018 to 2022.

In December 2024, rumours about Burna Boy’s relationship with American R&B singer Chloe Bailey surfaced after she spent time with him during Lagos’ ‘Detty December’ celebrations. Videos of them enjoying Lagos nightlife further fueled speculation. On 7 February 2025, Premium Times Nigeria confirmed they were dating after being spotted on a Valentine’s-themed dinner date in Lagos, engaging in public displays of affection.^[

In 2025, he was named one of GQ’s Best-Dressed Men.