Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy has shared that, at a point in his life, he felt a stronger bond with Jamaican culture than with his Nigerian heritage.
In an interview with Capital Xtra in London, the Afrofusion star explained that his formative years in Brixton, UK, deeply immersed him in Jamaican and Caribbean influences, shaping his sense of identity.
He recounted how his early introduction to Jamaican music came from his father, who frequently played reggae icons like Super Cat. This foundation, combined with his later experiences in Brixton, strengthened his connection to Jamaican culture.
Burna Boy noted that while his music is rooted in Afrobeats, it is heavily infused with reggae and dancehall elements, reflecting this cultural blend.
The singer, who has previously described Jamaica as “home,” added that although he now fully embraces his Nigerian roots, he still feels a sense of dual identity.
“Jamaica has always been a part of me—from my dad playing Super Cat and others when I was a kid to my time in Brixton, where almost every Nigerian in the UK was either in school or in Peckham. I ended up in Brixton.
“At that time, I considered myself more Jamaican simply because everyone around me was Jamaican or Caribbean. There were very few Nigerians around. Back home in Nigeria, I am fully Nigerian, but while I was in Brixton, I felt Jamaican. Even the Africans I was close to weren’t Nigerians; they were Gambians, Ugandans, and Congolese. There were only two Nigerians in my crew,” he said.
