Reno Omokri, Nigeria's Ambassador Designate to Mexico and a prominent public commentator, has sparked widespread reactions after praising Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy for his historic performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show. The event took place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Burna Boy became the first Nigerian artist to perform during a World Cup final halftime show, sharing the stage with global icons such as Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber, and BTS.
Burna Boy's Historic Performance
Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, reunited with Colombian superstar Shakira for the performance, during which they delivered the anthem “Dai Dai.” The show marked a milestone for Afrobeats music on a global stage, with Burna Boy's electrifying presence earning widespread acclaim from fans and celebrities alike.
Omokri shared a picture of Burna Boy performing alongside Shakira on his social media platforms, captioning it: “Now that's what I call representation! So proud of Burna Boy. He had a global stage, and he gave the world a performance to remember Nigeria by. This is what all patriots should do. Well done!” The post quickly went viral, drawing both praise and criticism from netizens.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
Omokri's commendation of Burna Boy came just weeks after he publicly criticized fellow Nigerian artist Davido for wearing a custom outfit at a FIFA countdown concert in Los Angeles. Davido's attire listed the names of abducted Oyo schoolchildren along with the message “Bring Them Home,” which Omokri had condemned as a political stunt. Many social media users accused Omokri of hypocrisy, pointing out his inconsistent stance on celebrity activism.
On Facebook, Yazeed Abdulsalam Altsaftawee commented: “Both Davido and Burna Boy deserved your clap. Because they did what you can't do.” Longe Daniel added: “Put politics in all you do. Both Burna Boy and Davido represented Nigeria well on the global stage.” Other users like Ezeaku Somtochukwu noted: “We all know where you're pointing at but everybody no go be chameleon, some will always say it the way they are.”
Uchenna Okafor remarked: “Just trying to get at Davido for his honest comment on the state of Nigeria. Anywhere wey belle face.” Jesus Kephas directly challenged Omokri: “Stop cutting through the corners, talk to David Adeleke directly and he wunt crusify you.”
Omokri's History with Davido
Legit.ng earlier reported that Omokri had a heated exchange with Davido over the singer's customised outfit at the FIFA countdown concert. Davido's attire, which highlighted the abduction of Oyo schoolchildren, was seen by Omokri as an inappropriate use of a global platform. However, many Nigerians supported Davido, arguing that he was drawing attention to a national crisis.
Omokri's recent praise for Burna Boy has reignited the debate, with critics accusing him of double standards. Supporters, however, argue that Omokri's comments were purely celebratory and not intended to undermine Davido's activism.
Brymo's Allegations Against Burna Boy
In related news, singer Brymo recently accused Burna Boy of purchasing his Grammy Award, claiming he was once asked to pay $10,000 for a BET Awards nomination. Brymo dismissed Burna Boy's 2023 freestyle diss, insisting he would never mention the Grammy winner in his songs and questioning his performance and songwriting abilities. The feud, which began in 2023 when Brymo labelled Burna Boy unoriginal, has reignited with Brymo's latest remarks challenging the credibility of Burna Boy's achievements.
Despite the controversies, Burna Boy's World Cup performance remains a significant milestone for Nigerian music, cementing his status as a global ambassador for Afrobeats.
