Damini Ogulu, the world-famous Nigerian music superstar, who is better known as Burna Boy has described the country as “collateral damage” in a candid reflection on the nation’s current state.
Speaking in an interview with Tidal on Friday, the African Giant shared why the country’s cultural diversity has become a bane against its growth.
The Grammy-winning artist also expressed his concern over the socio-political challenges facing Nigeria, emphasising that the nation and its citizens often suffer the consequences of poor governance and external influences.
Burna Boy’s remarks highlight his continued outspokenness on issues affecting Nigeria, as “he urged for more accountability and better leadership to prevent the country from being treated as expendable in global and local affairs.”
His comments have sparked discussions across social media, with many echoing his sentiments about the need for change.
Burna Boy shared his thoughts about how Nigeria as a country came to be during the interview with Tidal.
He noted that Nigeria as a country was never meant to exist and it is “nothing but the result of a bad business enterprise entered into by the British”, nothing “but the collateral damage of a business deal gone south.”
He noted that “the area called Nigeria was first known as the Niger Area before the Royal Niger Company acquired it.
“After it was acquired, the Royal Niger Company decided to amalgamate the North and South as against running them as separate entities, and it was at this point that the country Nigeria was birthed.
The Afro-fusion star noted that “when the amalgamation was going to happen, the Niger Company and the British who sold Nigeria didn’t take into consideration those living in the region.
“The two entities that sold and bought the Niger Area, the people living there were nothing but collateral damage.”