Grammy-nominated Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti has voiced his frustration over what he perceives as the Nigerian media erroneously crediting Burna Boy for achievements set by himself and other musicians in the Nigerian music industry.

In a recent interview with The Public Republic, Kuti highlighted that despite performing at Coachella in 2012, media reports widely credited Burna Boy as the first Nigerian artist to play at the festival in 2020.

Kuti also pointed out that before Burna Boy received his first Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album with “African Giant,” his elder brother, Femi Kuti, had received multiple nominations in the same category.

Seun Kuti expressed his disappointment that his album “Black Times,” which was nominated for Best World Music Album, was not considered for any African awards. He further lamented that his recent Grammy nomination for his contributions to Janelle Monae’s “Age of Pleasure,” which was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2024 Grammys, went unacknowledged by the Nigerian media.

“My brother [Femi Kuti] has been nominated at the Grammys multiple times. They’ve nominated me; I was also nominated in the last edition. It was only my name that they [Nigerian media] didn’t mention among the Nigerian artists who were nominated for the 66th Grammys. That’s what they do every time as if I’m from Togo,” Kuti stated.

He continued, “That’s how they said Burna Boy was the first Nigerian artist to play in Coachella in 2020, where I played in 2012, as if I’m from Togo.”

Kuti’s remarks shed light on the ongoing issue of recognition and proper credit within the Nigerian music scene, calling for more accurate representation of artists’ accomplishments.

Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, known by his stage name Portable, has sparked controversy by accusing fellow artist Davido of exploiting their recent dinner meeting in the United States for publicity rather than fostering a musical collaboration or providing financial support.

In a video posted on his Instagram page, Portable lamented that despite their dinner invitation, Davido did not extend a verse or financial assistance, alleging that he was used merely to generate attention.

Portable said, “Davido ripped me, you invited me out for a dinner in America, but you didn’t give me a verse or money, you just used me to trend. You should have given me at least $10,000”

The rift between the two artists emerged after Portable publicly criticized Davido for offering what he described as “bad advice” during their encounter.

Following Portable’s public criticism, Davido responded by unfollowing him on Instagram.

In turn, Portable, the ‘Zazu’ crooner, reciprocated by unfollowing Davido as well.

The hit song “Calm Down,” by well-known Nigerian artist Divine Ikubor, often known as Rema, has become the first African song to reach one billion on-demand streams in the US.

In the United States, “Calm Down” has amassed over 1 billion on-demand streams, according to TAmerican Music Stats Company, Chart Data.

“REMA’s “Calm Down” becomes the first Afrobeats song in history to earn over 1 billion on-demand streams in the US,” Chart Data tweeted.

The “Calm Down remix” featuring Selena Gomez became the first African song to reach the billion mark on Spotify in August of last year.

The first number one song on the world’s first regional streaming chart, MENA, was officially certified by Guinness World Records as being the original version of “Calm Down.”