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Grammy-winning singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has claimed that the Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti, is the only African artist greater than him.
He made the claimed during a recent livestream with popular Australian streamer, Playboymax.
“He [Fala Kuti] is the king. He is the only one [African artist] who is greater than me. He is the only one,” Burna Boy boasted.
The ‘Last Last’ crooner’s bold claim elicited mixed reactions, with many saying it was overreaching.
While Burna Boy is currently one of the biggest artist in African, the hierarchy of the of the greatest African artists in history remains a debate.
Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has made history posthumously as his iconic 1976 album Zombie has been inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame.
This is the first Nigerian album ever to receive the prestigious honour.
The announcement was made by the Recording Academy as part of this year’s Hall of Fame selections. Unlike typical Grammy Awards, the Hall of Fame recognises recordings that are at least 25 years old and possess “lasting qualitative or historical significance.”
In its official statement, the Academy praised Zombie “for its fearless critique of oppression, cultural impact, and enduring relevance to political resistance and African musical heritage.”
Originally released in Nigeria by Coconut Records and later in the UK by Creole Records in 1977, Zombie is one of Fela’s most provocative albums. With tracks like Zombie, Mister Follow Follow, Observation Is No Crime, and Mistake (recorded live at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1978), the album satirised Nigeria’s military by comparing soldiers to brainwashed “zombies” who blindly obey orders.
