Afrobeats star Burna Boy has reignited the long-running debate over Nigeria’s biggest music acts after declaring that he has moved beyond the industry’s popular ‘Big 3’ classification.
The singer made the statement during a recent performance, telling his audience that he should no longer be considered part of the traditional grouping alongside Wizkid and Davido.
In a video clip from the performance, Burna Boy told the crowd:
“Next time anybody tells you anything called the ‘Big 3’, tell them that there’s only the ‘Big 2’ and then there’s Burna Boy.”
The remark has renewed conversations around the ranking of Nigeria’s most influential Afrobeats artistes, particularly as the three names have dominated discussions about the genre’s global rise for years.
What is the Afrobeats ‘Big 3’?
The ‘Big 3’ label has traditionally been used to describe Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido — three Nigerian artistes whose careers have played significant roles in taking Afrobeats to international audiences.
The trio have recorded major commercial successes and built substantial audiences beyond Nigeria, helping to strengthen the global profile of Nigerian music.
Burna Boy’s latest declaration, however, suggests that he no longer considers the three-way classification an accurate description of his position in the industry.
The singer’s comment is likely to fuel further debate among music fans over whether the traditional ‘Big 3’ hierarchy still reflects the current Afrobeats landscape.
