Speculation as Burkina Faso president reportedly snubs popular Nigerian artiste’s free concert proposal

Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has reportedly turned down an offer from Nigerian music star Burna Boy to hold a free concert in the country.

The report, which surfaced via popular Burkina Faso blog page @trulilgram on Instagram, claims that the Grammy-winning artist had expressed his interest in staging a free show for Burkinabé citizens sometime this year.

Burna Boy, in a message allegedly shared via his alternate Instagram page, was quoted as saying:

“If possible, it would be an honor for me to give the people of Burkina Faso a free BURNA BOY concert sometime this year, Insha Allah.”

While the offer appeared to be well-intentioned, @trulilgram reports that President Traoré appreciated the gesture but respectfully declined, stating that Burkina Faso “doesn’t need distractions at the moment.”

According to the page, supporters of the president echoed the sentiment, suggesting that national focus should remain on ongoing efforts to stabilize the country and support its current leadership.

“President Ibrahim Traoré said he appreciates the love but doesn’t need distraction in Burkina Faso. And the people of Burkina Faso said Burna Boy should take the concert somewhere else, that they need to focus on their goal to protect their president,” the post read.

The incident has since set the social media abuzz, with some commending the president’s decision to prioritize national stability, while others view it as a missed opportunity for cultural diplomacy.

As of the time of this report, Burna Boy has not issued an official response.