Nigeria as ‘Collateral Damage,’ Says Burna Boy

Nigerian music sensation Damini Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, has referred to the country as “collateral damage” in a candid assessment of its current state.

In an interview with Tidal on Friday, the artist known as the African Giant explained how Nigeria’s cultural diversity has become a hindrance to its progress.

The Grammy-winning musician also voiced his concerns about the socio-political issues plaguing Nigeria, stressing that the nation and its people often bear the brunt of poor governance and external forces.

Burna Boy’s comments underscore his ongoing activism regarding Nigeria’s challenges, as “he called for greater accountability and improved leadership to ensure the country is not treated as expendable in both global and local contexts.”

His remarks have ignited conversations on social media, with many echoing his views on the urgent need for change.

During the Tidal interview, Burna Boy reflected on Nigeria’s origins, stating that the country was never intended to exist and is “nothing but the result of a bad business enterprise entered into by the British,” and “the collateral damage of a business deal gone south.”

He explained that “the area called Nigeria was initially known as the Niger Area before the Royal Niger Company took control.”

“After acquiring the territory, the Royal Niger Company decided to amalgamate the North and South, instead of managing them separately, and this is when the country Nigeria was created,” the Afro-fusion star added.

Burna Boy further noted that “when the amalgamation was being planned, the Niger Company and the British who sold Nigeria did not consider the people living in the region.”

“The two entities that sold and bought the Niger Area treated the inhabitants as nothing more than collateral damage.”