Burna Boy and celebrity barman, Cubana Chief Priest have ignited a heated exchange on social media that has captured the attention of a significant population of Nigerians on social media.
The conflict began when Burna Boy on his Instagram story, referred to Cubana as the “Owerri Rick Ross,” a nickname that Cubana interpreted as a derogatory comparison with American rapper, Rick Ross, particularly because of Burna’s perceived jab reflecting Cubana’s close ties with rival singer, Davido.
In a follow-up post, Burna Boy escalated the situation by calling Cubana “Azaman,” a term for a fraudster, and insinuated that Cubana’s associate, known as “Omo Igbo,” had been arrested in the US, suggesting that Cubana might be next.
“No forget say u be Azaman o. And dem don gbe your plug wey him name na ‘Omo Igbo’ for ATL and na u be next, #OwerriRickyrozay,” Burna Boy posted on his Instagram story.
This post provoked a sharp response from Cubana Chief Priest, who accused Burna Boy of bitterness and owing money to a London jeweler.
In a sarcastic tone, Cubana Chief Priest retorted by reminiscing about how he had paid Burna Boy N1million in 2018 to perform as a back-up singer at his birthday party, illustrating Burna Boy’s humble beginnings and suggesting that he should be more modest about his current status.
He wrote on his Instagram story, “Owerri Rick Ross, what a blessing! See where dem dey rate me put. Me & Rosay #CpNosmall.” He further mocked Burna Boy, alleging that “Diddy oil the fastest way to PTSD. You never see anything, you and your bend down collect Grammy.”
He further claimed that Burna Boy’s Grammy win was tied to a romantic connection with rapper, Diddy. “2018 na 1m naira I pay you to perform as back- up artist for my birthday. I get pictures & videos where you dey perform for me. I go lie for you.
“We don dey chop this money before you meet us for queue, be humble small boy. It’s so clear because how is it even possible that someone who brags to be so rich go dey live in so much pain. Wetin dey pain you? Shebi na you be African princess. Only you rush bend down collect Grammy, only you still dey cry. Oil full your Grammy, we know how painful it was that’s why you want everybody to feel the pain with you. You really suffer I understand you.”
Burna Boy quickly denied these claims, asserting that he pays for everything in cash and does not owe anyone money. He mocked Cubana Chief Priest’s accusations and highlighted his own financial integrity.
As the exchange continued, Cubana Chief Priest threatened to reveal more about Burna Boy’s personal life and financial matters.
Recently, Burna Boy honoured his pledge by offering $30, 000 s to Bethel Okechukwu, a phone repairer from Alaba Market who had claimed to be related to Cubana Chief Priest.
On Sunday, what could be called a show of generosity and spite, he promised to support Cubana Chief Priest’s alleged Kenyan baby mama, Hellen after she revealed in a video on Instagram that she had been homeless since 2023 and unable to contact Cubana Chief Priest for help as her attempts to reach him through Instagram and WhatsApp had been blocked, leaving her nowhere to turn.
Stanley Alieke, the lawyer for Speed Darlington, a.k.a, Akpi, has stepped into the feud between Burna Boy and Cubana Chief Priest, which ignited recently. Alieke challenged Burna Boy to take legal action against Cubana Chief Priest, as he did against his client.
Darlington’s arrest in November 2024 stemmed from his ongoing conflict with Burna Boy, which escalated after the release of his disc track “Baby Oil,” mocking Burna Boy’s ties to Diddy and gaining traction on Spotify Nigeria’s Top 100 chart.
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In the same act of spite, Cubana Chief Priest on Sunday, vowed to help free musician, Speed Darlington from police custody after a recent court ruling. However, it remains unclear what role Cuban Chief Priest played in securing the freedom of Akpi from police custody. Despite the Federal High Court in Abuja, granting Darlington bail on December 23, 2024, he had remained in police detention until January 7, 2025, when he was eventually released. Darlington has filed a lawsuit against the inspector general of police for violating his rights.
The exchange has elicited mixed reactions online, with some praising Burna Boy’s rise from humble beginnings, while others criticized Cubana Chief Priest’s retaliatory maneuveurs. Amidst the drama, there have been calls for Burna Boy to take a stronger stand against Cubana Chief Priest, similar to the actions he took against Speed Darlington for previous insinuations.
Discussions around the incident have also highlighted the broader issues within the Nigerian legal system, particularly concerning how the rich and powerful often evade accountability, as indicated by remarks about politicians who have escaped justice after committing significant crimes.
@Mazimum said: “It’s about time someone held them accountable! Nigerian police seem to think they can do whatever they want without facing consequences. Speed Darlington has a right to defend himself, and I really hope he wins this case. Let’s see if the law can actually work for the people it’s supposed to protect”
@SimincoleB said: “Akpi lawyer dey dodge Burna Boy. Why you not sue Burna Boy. When your mouth dey leak, your mother begged on her knees. One would think upon release, you would lay low, have a rethink and change for good. But you skipped bail and did even worse by releasing a video trying to cash in on the trend and small fame you acquired, thereby doing the same thing you were locked up for in the first place.
“Once can be considered unintentional or a mistake but doing the same crime twice is considered intentional. U will go in for criminal defamation and libel. He has only made his case worse by suing the IG. I dare him to sue Burna Boy if he get mind. Make he see fireworks.
@PrinceAbbey reflected on the politicians that have not served time, saying that “Yaya Bello that stole more than N160 billion didn’t spend up to 10 days in prison,” while @Billoiin005 said that “hustle o, make them no use you show power as them dey use Akpi dey show who get connections pass. Before this who beef, them no remember say Akpi dey for prison oh.”
