Esteemed American television host and filmmaker Steve Harvey has thrown his support behind Burna Boy and other African musicians, countering Western narratives that accuse them of stealing from American music.
Harvey asserted that, in reality, it is the West, particularly Americans, who draw inspiration from African beats, rhythm, and soul, rather than the other way around. Speaking on a recent episode of his television show, he emphasized the profound influence of African music on global musical culture.
“People claim Burna Boy stole this, no we stole from Burna Boy. Africans are the beats, soul, rhythm, and hard work that inspire our courage,” remarked the comedian, voicing his perspective on the matter.
Burna Boy himself clarified his musical style in an interview with Apple Music last year, stating that he does not adhere strictly to the popular West African music genre known as Afrobeats.
Instead, he described his style as Afrofusion, a fusion of various musical elements including American hip-hop, R&B, soul, Jamaican reggae and dancehall, alongside African music influences.
Burna Boy’s groundbreaking achievements in the music industry further solidify his impact. His nomination in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category at the 66th Grammys marked a historic moment, as he became the first African artist to receive a nomination in a category previously dominated by Western artists.
Despite ultimately losing the award to Lil Durk, there were unfounded claims in certain Western circles that Burna Boy was attempting to appropriate Western musical styles.
