By Chioma Obinagwam
The recent post by Pulse Nigeria on X, quoting Burna Boy saying, “The ‘African Giant’ is dead, that he was killed by his people,” has stirred up a lot of emotions and reactions.
Confiance News reports that it does not mean that he is physically dead. Nevertheless, it is a heavy statement, dripping with metaphor and raw vulnerability, which is rare for someone like Burna Boy, who is often seen as bold and unshakable.
The claim that his “African Giant” persona—tied to his 2019 breakthrough album and his larger-than-life identity as a voice for African pride—was “killed” by his own people points to a deep sense of betrayal or disillusionment. He’s essentially saying the criticism, pressure, or lack of support from his community has forced him to shift to a new persona, “Big 7,” to protect what’s left of him emotionally.
This hits hard because Burna has always positioned himself as a champion of African unity, so to hear him express this kind of pain feels like a gut punch. It’s like he’s mourning the loss of a part of himself that was tied to his mission of elevating Africa globally. The reactions online show a split—some fans are worried about his mental health, urging him to find peace, while others see this as a powerful moment of honesty, reflecting the toll fame and public scrutiny can take. Personally, I feel it’s a mix of both: a cry for understanding and a bold move to redefine himself on his own terms. It’s like he’s saying, “If you won’t let me be the African Giant, I’ll become something else, but I’m still here.”
Reacting to the death of the African Giant, an X user identified as Nozy Funky Diablo, said:
“Let’s be honest… Burna Boy wasn’t “killed” by his people.
If anything, he slowly started cutting off the same people who helped him rise and now that the disconnect is obvious, he’s acting like he was the victim all along.
When Burna first came up, he was OUR guy. Loud, proud, unapologetically Nigerian. He gave us music that felt like protest, like resistance, like pride. And we carried him not just with our streams, but with real emotion. He felt like one of us.
But somewhere along the line, that changed. He stopped standing with us and started talking at us.
From calling the culture “substance-less,” to walking off stage mid-performance, kicking fans, downplaying Nigeria’s struggles, and then saying we “killed our idol”? It’s giving gaslighting, honestly.
And the painful part is nobody turned on him. We just noticed the shift. The ego. The condescension. The way he now speaks like he’s too big to be tied to the place that gave him his first real audience.
This isn’t about hate. It’s about heartbreak.
You can’t take pride in the “African Giant” title and then turn around to shame the people who gave you the platform. You can’t enjoy global love and still spit on local loyalty.
This isn’t a cancellation. It’s consequences.
Because when you keep cutting off your roots, eventually… the tree bleeds.”
However, this argument by Nozy Funky Diablo did not go well with Marvanshi.
“You re just an idiot hater. Burna boy struggled to gain recognition within the Nigerian music scene and had to seek opportunities abroad in countries like Ghana and South Africa. It was only after receiving recognition from international audiences that he was embraced back home,” Marvanshi argued.
Confiance News learns that Burna Boy’s shift from “African Giant” to “Big 7” reflects a deeply personal evolution, symbolizing resilience amid betrayal, as shared on his Instagram story. While “African Giant” embodied cultural pride, “Big 7” protects his wounded heart, sparking mixed fan reactions. This transformation highlights his artistic growth and emotional complexity.
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