Some videos have surfaced on social media in which protesters can be seen dancing to ‘Ye’, a track off ‘Outside’, Burna Boy’s third album, during the Black Lives Matter rallies in the United Kingdom and Germany.
The protests were due to the killing of George Floyd, a black American who died in Minneapolis, US.
Floyd breathed his last on May 25, after an arrest by a Minneapolis officer, who pinned him to the ground for several minutes by kneeling on his neck.
His death has since provoked outrage across social media platforms while heated protests on racism and police brutality against the blacks have been held all over the world.
Two of such protests — dubbed the ‘Black Lives Matter’ — were staged in the UK and Germany, with celebrities openly declaring their solidarity.
Video clips however, surfaced online showing the protesters dancing to ‘Ye’.
German Protesters sing Burna Boy's Ye during a Black Lives Matter protest in Cologne, Germany. pic.twitter.com/jXVLnyfLDr
Advertisement— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 9, 2020
While a deluge of protesters waved their pan-African flags and placards in the air, others formed a circle; took turns to dance; and used the socially conscious track to advance their movement.
Produced by Phantom, ‘Ye’ had shortly peaked at number 26 and 31 on Billboard‘s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop and R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts respectively following its debut.
Protesters dance to Burna Boy's Ye during a Black Lives Matter protest in the UK. pic.twitter.com/QUuuzawVxp
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 9, 2020
The song, whose title evokes the imagery of a black man shrieking responsively in pain, would later win the ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Listener’s Choice’ at the 2019 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.
Burna Boy has severally prompted social media backlashes over talks about dominance in the country’s music space while describing himself as the best after Fela Kuti, an Afrobeat legend.
“Remember I told you I was the African and most of you laughed and said I should be grateful for small fonts. I pray that you learn from me. I mean this in no bragging way,” Burna had once said.
“I repeat, nobody that is not Fela or my family can ever say they paved way for me. I drew my own map and followed it. This is just the beginning, though. Una no go sleep.”
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