Controversy has erupted in the Nigerian music scene after Afrobeats star Burna Boy was allegedly linked to the arrest of popular content creator Speed Darlington. In a now-viral video, a woman identifying herself as Miss Queen, Speed Darlington’s mother, is seen pleading for help from the public and directly addressing Burna Boy.
“My name is Miss Queen, and I’m begging Burna Boy to help bring back my son,” she said tearfully, explaining that her family had been informed by Speed Darlington’s gateman that her son had been taken. “His gatekeeper called my family and notified them that there’s a video made and put on the internet about Burna Boy,” she added.
She further pleaded, “Speed is my only son, and I am begging my fellow Nigerians – everyone should help me beg Burna Boy.” In her emotional appeal, Miss Queen asked Burna Boy to “temper justice with mercy,” adding, “Please forgive him. I’m on my knees, begging you.”
The video that allegedly led to Darlington’s arrest involves a clip where he questions Burna Boy’s 2021 Grammy win for his album “Twice as Tall” and Burna Boy’s relationship with American rapper and producer Sean Combs (Diddy), who was an executive producer on the album. Darlington playfully hinted that there could be more behind Burna Boy’s Grammy success, making light of Diddy’s recent federal indictment that included serious allegations.
In the same video, Darlington also disputed Burna Boy’s use of the title ‘Odogwu,’ saying, “Anyone in Lagos can call themselves ‘Odogwu’.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that Speed Darlington was being held by the Nigerian Police Force.
“We just spent the last 30 minutes with Speed Darlington, and he recounted how he was arrested in Lagos last Friday, moved around, and eventually brought to Abuja, where he has been detained since. We can confirm that the petition against him was written by Burna Boy,” he said.
Nigerian publications now report that Speed has been released on bail.
Both Speed Darlington, born Darlington Okoye, and Burna Boy, born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, are not new to controversy.
The former gained fame for his humorous, often controversial posts on social media, particularly on Instagram, where his signature phrase “bang da dadang” has become well-known.
And in June 2022, reports surfaced alleging that Burna Boy’s aides shot at partygoers in a Lagos club after a woman declined to interact with him.
