Steve Harvey, the well-known American television host and filmmaker, has boldly countered Western opinions by asserting that artists like Burna Boy from Africa haven’t plagiarized from American music. Instead, Harvey suggests that it’s the West, particularly America, that draws inspiration from African beats, rhythm, and soul.
In a recent episode of his television show, Harvey emphasized this perspective, stating,
“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.”
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Burna Boy himself clarified his musical style in an interview with Apple Music last year, distinguishing it as Afrofusion rather than the popular West African genre Afrobeats. He described Afrofusion as a blend of American hip-hop, R&B, soul, Jamaican reggae and dancehall, alongside elements of African music.
Burna Boy’s groundbreaking nomination in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category at the 66th Grammys marked a significant moment, making him the first African artist to be recognized in a rap category previously dominated by Western artists. Despite ultimately losing the award to Lil Durk, some sectors of the West raised unfounded claims that Burna Boy was attempting to appropriate Western musical styles.
