Grammy-winning Nigerian artist, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has shared that there was a period in his life when he strongly identified with Jamaican culture, even more than his Nigerian roots.
In an interview with Capital Xtra London, the Afro-fusion star recounted his time studying in Brixton, United Kingdom, where he was surrounded almost entirely by Jamaicans and other Caribbeans. This environment, combined with the influence of Jamaican music from childhood, led him to feel deeply connected to the island nation.
“Growing up, my dad played a lot of Super Cat and other Jamaican artists,” Burna Boy said. “And then I found myself living in Brixton, not where most Nigerians were, like Peckham. Everyone around me was Caribbean. Even the Africans I hung out with weren’t Nigerians — they were Congolese, Ugandans, and Gambians. So at that time, I felt more Jamaican. But when I go back home, that’s when I reconnect with being Nigerian.”
He added that his musical style is heavily shaped by reggae and dancehall, and he’s always considered Jamaica a second home.