A heated confrontation between Grammy-winning afrobeats star, Burna Boy, and popular disc jockey, DJ Tunez, at a Lagos nightlife hotspot has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s entertainment industry, triggering viral reactions, industry debates, and widespread social media commentary.
The incident occurred at a popular hotspot, Obi’s House, in Lagos, where a disagreement between both figures escalated into a physical altercation and was captured on camera. Eyewitness accounts circulating online claimed the situation intensified after members of Burna Boy’s entourage became involved, before calm was eventually restored. While the exact cause of the dispute remains unclear, speculation has linked the tension to underlying industry rivalries, particularly DJ Tunez’s close affiliation with afrobeats star, Wizkid.
Amid the growing controversy, DJ Tunez broke his silence on social media, first posting a cryptic message that read, “Ogbafia Number 1 Don Wake Ooo!”, which many interpreted as a reaction to the incident. He later followed up with a more direct and fiery tweet, writing,
“This n***a burna boy! All signs of weakness. First off ….. You hit me in the back of my head without me looking! That’s some s**ka shit my boy! 1 vs 10 and I stood my ground. That’s why you collected as well, when I defended myself.”
Burna Boy also responded to the incident, with a viral video showing him singing a new song inspired by the clash and dramatically performing it, further fueling reactions online.
Amid the ongoing fallout, Wizkid weighed in on social media too in a series of tweets that have since gone viral. In one post, he wrote, “P***y n***a Jump a dj with 10 man carry diddy towel Dey dance. I never see fool like this diddy babe for my life”
In a subsequent post, he uploaded the picture of a bottle of baby oil, believed to be in reference to the stash of baby oil found in the home of embattled American artiste and entrepreneur, Sean Combs, aka Diddy.
Meanwhile, shortly after the incident, a statement purportedly by the Nigerian DJ Association condemned the act and declaring solidarity with DJ Tunez, announced a temporary boycott of Burna Boy’s music.
However, this was later countered by the Disc Jockeys Association of Nigeria, which claimed that the statement did not emanate from it. A statement shared with Saturday Beats by the chairman of the Lagos chapter of the association, DJ Roland, read in part, “The deejaying profession is built on trust, credibility, and responsibility. Any misuse of our identity or spread of false information undermines not just DJAN, but the integrity of the industry as a whole.
“Our focus remains on promoting professionalism and collaboration across the industry. DJAN is not an enforcement body for bans or censorship, but a platform for unity and growth,”
It added that that it does not support or endorse any form of unofficial sanctions, blacklisting, or divisive actions.
Burna Boy’s violent past
It is pertinent to note that Burna Boy is not a stranger to violent confrontations in public places.
In June 2022, the ‘City Boys’ crooner made headlines after his security escorts allegedly shot and wounded two people at a Lagos nightclub. Reports indicated the incident began after a woman, who was at the venue with her husband, declined an invitation to join the singer in a VIP section. Several members of his security team were arrested and charged with attempted murder, although Burna Boy later denied involvement in the shooting.
He was also linked to a reported altercation with fellow afrobeats star, Davido, at a nightclub in Ghana in December 2020. Eyewitness accounts suggested tensions escalated into a physical confrontation between both camps, though details of the incident varied widely.
In 2021, rapper, CDQ, accused Burna Boy’s entourage of attacking him during a night out at Quilox nightclub in Lagos. The dispute reportedly stemmed from tensions involving footballer, Obafemi Martins, and members of Burna Boy’s circle, with claims of violence emerging from the incident.
Yet, one of the most widely reported incidents involved singer, Mr 2Kay, who was attacked and robbed at the prestigious Eko Hotel, Lagos, after a concert. Suspects arrested by police reportedly confessed to carrying out the assault and alleged they were hired by Burna Boy. The singer was subsequently declared wanted and later arraigned in court over the incident.
Earlier in his career, Burna Boy was reportedly linked to a violence-related case in the United Kingdom, which led to legal trouble and restrictions on his re-entry into the country for a period.
A report by Netng stated that in 2010, Burna was arrested by the London Police for allegedly being part of a gang that stabbed someone to death. He was reportedly tried as a minor and sent to jail. After 11 months of doing time, he was released on the grounds of being of ‘good behaviour’. However, he was still to serve two months of parole and community service; yet, he travelled to Nigeria.
It added, “On his return to Nigeria, he signed his deal with Aristokrat. He later travelled back to the UK but was arrested at the airport and deported back to Nigeria. He is currently barred from the UK for the next 15 years.”
The latest incident with DJ Tunez now joins a growing list of moments that continue to fuel conversations about discipline, power dynamics, and conflict within Nigeria’s entertainment space.
