Tubaba Praises Burna Boy’s Journey, Asserts His Own Relevance

Nigerian music legend Tubaba has declared his continued relevance in the music scene, even with the rise of new Afrobeats artists. In an interview with AFRIMMA, Tubaba emphasized the significant sacrifices he and his peers made to elevate Afrobeats to its current global stature.

Tubaba also offered advice to young artists, encouraging them to trust the process and take cues from Grammy winner Burna Boy. He highlighted Burna Boy’s journey, noting that he started by selling out small venues and gradually built a strong fan base before moving on to larger stadiums and arenas.

“Burna Boy sells out Madison Square Garden, and they [other artists] think they are on the same level. That’s unrealistic,” Tubaba said. “He knows what he went through before reaching his current status, and you have to go through that process fully. Burna Boy didn’t just wake up and sell out Madison Square Garden; it was a long process.”

He continued, “He began by touring small venues, building a huge followership from there. Now, you see the results. It’s the same process. We are part of the sacrificers, the instrumental process [laughs].”

Tubaba concluded by asserting his ongoing relevance: “But that doesn’t take away from the fact that I am still very much relevant. I’m still here making good music.”