Bill Gates: I researched Burna Boy, Rema when my daughter mentioned them

Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, says he had to research about Afrobeats stars Burna Boy and Rema before his latest visit to Nigeria.

Gates, who is currently in the country to address Polio and other health threats, spoke in Lagos state on Wednesday.

The philanthropist said when he told Phoebe, his 20-year-old daughter, of his visit to Nigeria, she was happy that he would get the opportunity to meet Burna Boy and Rema.

Gates said after the conversation, he felt the need to familiarise himself with the singers’ works by looking them up.

The 67-year-old expressed his admiration for the creativity of young Nigerians and the popularity of Afrobeats music.

He also said he was “impressed” with Wizkid and Davido’s performances during his previous visit to the country.

“Of course, I’ve been here in Nigeria. I can’t help but mention the amazing creativity that goes on here,” he said.

“Afrobeats from Nigeria are popular everywhere and when my daughter Phoebe heard I was going to Nigeria, she said, ‘Oh, you’re lucky. You get to see Burna Boy and Rema’.

“So, I had to look them up. I’m so hip. But I also remember the last time I was here I did get to see Davido and Wizkid perform and I was quite impressed with that.”

When my daughter Phoebe heard I was coming to Nigeria, she said, "You're lucky because you get to see Burna Boy and Rema, so I had to look them up…because I'm so 'hip'.

But I remember the last time I was here, I got to see Davido & Wizkid perform.

Advertisement

– Bill Gates#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/xpNfZQjNWQ

— Channels Television (@channelstv) June 21, 2023

His remark has again reawakened the superiority debate involving Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.

Davido came under fire recently for labelling Burna Boy as a “new cat” of Afrobeats alongside Rema, Fireboy, Mayorkun, and Asake.

The singer had referred to himself and Wizkid as “pioneers in popularising Afrobeats”.