Burna Boy: At 60, we’re still suffering and smiling

Burna Boy, multiple-award winning singer, says at 60, Nigerians are still suffering and smiling.

The music star spoke when he featured on an Arise News programme to commemorate the country’s Independence Day anniversary.

Making reference to ‘Shuffering and Shmiling’, a 1978 album by Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend, the ‘African Giant’ crooner said it is unfortunate that many Nigerians see hardship as a new normal without doing anything to change the situation.

According to him, the country is currently in a “confused” state that no meaningful development can take place except there is a significant change in the polity.

“There must be something in place for that to happen (referring to positive change) in Nigeria. It must be in a conducive environment, not one that is so confused like ours,” he said.

“Everybody is so confused now that they see what is wrong, know what is wrong but like Fela said, we suffer and smile.

“But there is a reason for that. We suffer and smile because that is what we have been taught to be the norm.”

The ‘Ye’ singer said majority of Nigerian leaders have failed the masses, adding that only few people are working in the interest of the country.

“Only few Nigerians are giving the country hope. This is because the leaders and those appointed to lead the country haven’t gotten it yet till this point,” he said.

The singer recently made the headlines recently for rejecting an invitation by Omoyele Sowore, convener of the RevolutionNow protest, to join a march to mark the country’s Independence anniversary.