Burna Boy: “I Once Felt More Jamaican Than Nigerian”
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has revealed that there was a period in his life when he considered himself more Jamaican than Nigerian, due to the influence of his environment and music.
In a recent interview with Capital Xtra London, the Afrofusion star explained how living in Brixton, South London, surrounded by Jamaicans and other Caribbean nationals, deeply shaped his identity and musical leanings.
“Jamaica Has Always Been a Part of Me” – Burna Boy
Speaking on his early years in the UK, Burna Boy recounted how Caribbean culture left a lasting imprint on him.
“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, when almost every Nigerian in the UK was either in school or in Peckham. I ended up in Brixton.”
He added that being immersed in Caribbean culture made him feel more connected to Jamaica at the time:
“I considered myself more Jamaican simply because everyone around me was Jamaican and Caribbean. There were minimal Nigerians around me at that time. When I go back home to Nigeria, then I’m really a Nigerian. But when I was here, I’m Jamaican.”
Strong Caribbean Influence on Burna Boy’s Sound
Burna Boy also emphasized how Jamaican music, particularly reggae and dancehall, heavily shaped his sound growing up.
“Even the Africans that were my guys were not Nigerians. They were Gambians, Ugandans, and Congolese. There were only two Nigerians in my crew.”
This isn’t the first time Burna Boy has spoken about his connection to Jamaica he has previously described the island as his “second home.”
His acclaimed music career has consistently blended Afrobeat with reggae, dancehall, and global pop — a fusion that earned him the Grammy for Best Global Music Album.
Burna Boy and Stefflon Don: A Jamaican Connection
From 2019 to 2021, Burna Boy was romantically linked with British-Jamaican rapper Stefflon Don, further deepening his connection to Jamaican and Caribbean culture.
Despite their eventual breakup, the relationship made headlines and reflected Burna’s global influence and cross-cultural identity.
