### Burna Boy Relinquishes ‘African Giant’ Title to Falz Amid Protests Controversy
Nigerian artist Burna Boy, also known as Damini Ogulu, has publicly transferred his ‘African Giant’ title to fellow musician Falz, whose real name is Folarin Falana. This decision follows Burna Boy’s withdrawal from the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
On Thursday, Burna Boy took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain his absence from the protests, revealing that his resolve was diminished during the ENDSARS protests in 2020, when some demonstrators called for a boycott of his music.
In his tweet, Burna Boy expressed, “The fight in me ended on that day. Ogun go doggy, anybody wey call my name this time around,” referring to an old clip from October 2020 where protesters were heard chanting, “Don’t play Burna o, we don’t want Burna.”
This statement sparked a wave of criticism on X, with users questioning his commitment and leadership.
User #boymanager0 commented, “Just because you were treated poorly doesn’t mean you should give up. You taught us to fight through your music, but now you’re not even speaking up.”
Burna Boy responded, “I taught you to fight your oppressors, but you chose to fight me.”
Another user, #Xperience_Snr, pointed out, “The chants against you didn’t come out of nowhere. Many Nigerians were disappointed because you seemed silent on critical issues abroad and during protests.”
Some users challenged Burna Boy’s self-styled ‘African Giant’ title, with one writing, “Aren’t you supposed to be the Giant of Africa? Yet when it’s time to speak out, you act like you’re invisible.”
In response to the backlash, Burna Boy declared, “I’ve handed it over to Falz bros,” indicating he has relinquished the title to his colleague.
