“At One Point, I Felt More Jamaican Than Nigerian” — Burna Boy Opens Up About Cultural Identity

Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy has opened up about a surprising chapter in his life one where he felt a deeper connection to Jamaican culture than his Nigerian roots.

In a recent interview with Capital Xtra in London, the Grammy-winning artist, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, reflected on his formative years in Brixton.

Surrounded predominantly by Caribbean communities during his time there, Burna Boy said he found himself more culturally aligned with Jamaica than Nigeria.

“Jamaica has always been close to my heart,” he said. “Growing up, my dad played a lot of Super Cat and other Jamaican artists. Later, when I moved to Brixton, most of the people around me were Jamaicans or from other Caribbean backgrounds. At that point, I actually felt more Jamaican.”

He explained that his environment in the UK played a significant role in shaping his sense of identity. With few Nigerians in his immediate circle, his social world consisted largely of friends from Jamaica, Gambia, Uganda, and Congo.

While he has always embraced his Nigerian heritage, Burna Boy acknowledged that his exposure to other cultures especially Jamaican deeply influenced both his worldview and his music.

“Back in Nigeria, I was fully Nigerian,” he said. “But in the UK, everything around me was Caribbean. Even the Africans I knew weren’t Nigerians.”

Over the years, Burna Boy has made no secret of his admiration for Jamaican culture, calling the island nation a “second home.”

His music often blends reggae and dancehall influences, a nod to the genres that helped shape his artistic style. From 2019 to 2021, he was also in a high-profile relationship with British-Jamaican rapper Stefflon Don.

As Burna Boy continues to tour globally and release chart-topping hits, his multicultural background remains one of the defining traits of his artistry bridging continents, rhythms, and identities.