Burna Boy Explains Why None Of Afrobeat Legend’s Songs Motivated Him

Forum 6 months ago

Burna Boy Explains Why None Of Afrobeat Legend’s Songs Motivated Him

When Nigerian superstar Burna Boy met tennis legend Roger Federer, the conversation was as electric as expected. Their chat offered fans a rare peek into Burna’s love for football and the unique path of his music career.

Federer asked which albums shaped his youth, and Burna mentioned Joe’s debut album, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III, Tupac’s Makaveli, and “all of Fela’s albums,” which he discovered through his grandfather.

But when Federer pressed him to pick the most influential, Burna surprised everyone:

“Honestly, none,” he said flatly.

A visibly shocked Federer leaned forward. “Really? Are you for real?”

Burna doubled down.

“I promise you. Well, Fela was a big influence on me.”

The mood shifted when Federer asked about favourite footballers, and Burna’s face lit up. Without hesitation, he named Nigerian legend Austin “JJ” Okocha.

“My good soccer player is JJ Okocha,” the singer stated.

Federer nodded in agreement. “I remember JJ Okocha, of course. He scored some great goals.”

Burna went on to praise Victor Osimhen and Ronaldinho for their creativity and flair. Speaking about Nigeria’s national team, he added a playful jab:

“The Super Eagles. That’s super cool. Why Super Eagles? They can’t fly, but you know, they win some games.”

Watch the interview here: