PlayBurna Boy’s grandfather, Benson Idonije, at the private listening for Burna’s forthcoming album “Outside.”įor Burna Boy, nothing is ever done for face value. Puff some, talk some, exhale some, puff some, talk some, exhale some. While he introduced his album and got into the music, he was nursing and enjoying a blunt. Heck, I would be too, if I had just recorded a dope album, got approval from a major label, released a lead single, and have my friends and family in a room to celebrate with me. He was the host of the night, who was tasked with extracting order and flow from Burna Boy.īurna Boy was happy. “Hello everyone, make some noise for Burna Boy,” OAP Douglas Jekan demanded. This was a mini-victory lap for him, and he made sure he arrived with Phyno, a trusted colleague and supporter of his craft and movement. Alcohol flowed from a bar, and small chops were handed out with smiles. Outside, the trunk of a remodelled Peugeot 504 served as kitchen, where Burna Boy’s favourite meal, Port-Harcourt-styled Boli, was prepared and served. This night, they trooped out of their homes and corners to worship at the altar of Burna Ranking, and exclusively get a taste of what he has been working on. Earlier in the day, people had flocked to various churches to give God his due. Up here, the only focus was on the man and his new material his new offering to the world, which contains purely his genius. PlayBurna Boy and Douglas Jekan at the private listening for his forthcoming album “Outside.” How do you love the man who causes so much ache? How do you ignore his demons and embrace his artistic light? How can we separate the creator from his art, and choose from the confusing buffet that he so willingly serves? The man who would who would explode your heart with great music, and implode your head with a controversy that has no business interfering with the music.īurna Boy had been declared wanted by the police, had a court date, while at the same time dropping an immensely enjoyable record with Lily Allen, and featuring on Fall Out Boy’s “Mania” album. This was the Burna Boy that we have all learned to love and chastise. While he had been signed to US major label, Atlantic, and created an album that has the potential to propel him to new heights, he still found himself involved in the robbery and assault of Nigerian singer Mr 2kay. The singer had displayed the two parts of himself, – villain and genius – in equal measure. The past few months had been interesting for Burna Boy. I wasn’t worried about him, people would turn up. Today’s teacher was Burna Boy, the man, the myth, the ball of fire, and he was reading from his forthcoming album, “Outside,” – the start of his life with Atlantic Records, the major label who put money and machinery behind him. In all my days of attending shows, this was the first time that I was standing at the stage of where an artist would stand and address the congregation of people who would flock to hear the sermon of the day music.
An hour before people would stream in, I stood on the stage of Were House, and all I saw were a few good souls.