CAF President Reveals Why Burna Boy Was Held at Moroccan Airport

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy was briefly delayed by customs officials at a Moroccan airport over concerns relating to the expensive jewellery he was travelling with ahead of a major African football event. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

The incident was confirmed by President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, who disclosed the details during a press briefing. According to Motsepe, Burna Boy was stopped by customs officers after they noticed the quantity and value of the gold jewellery in his possession while en route to Rabat for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Fan Zone concert.

Motsepe explained that the situation required senior-level intervention before it was resolved peacefully, adding that the singer committed no offence and was eventually cleared to continue his journey without any legal consequences.

Following the resolution, Burna Boy went on to headline the AFCON Fan Zone concert in Rabat on January 16, delivering a high-energy performance alongside Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy and Moroccan artistes Stormy and Jaylann.

The CAF president’s revelation sparked widespread reactions on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). While some users questioned why the Afrobeats star was travelling with such valuable jewellery, others defended him, arguing that luxury accessories are a common part of the lifestyle and branding of global music stars.

Several fans dismissed the criticism as unnecessary, noting that Burna Boy faced no legal action and successfully fulfilled his performance obligations at the AFCON event.

Some social media users expressed shock at the display of wealth, while others described the incident as a cultural misunderstanding rather than a serious issue.

Despite the brief airport delay, the situation had no impact on Burna Boy’s appearance at the AFCON Fan Zone concert, further highlighting his influence as one of Africa’s biggest music exports.