Burna Boy Gifts Portable N20M After Boxing Win Over Speed Darlington: A Deep Dive into the Drama

On April 19, 2025, Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy made headlines by allegedly gifting a whopping 20 million naira to controversial singer Portable following his victory in a boxing match against Speed Darlington, also known as Akpi.

The event, which took place at the Balmoral Events Centre in Lagos, sparked a frenzy on social media, with the news first breaking through Portable’s Instagram story.

In the post, Portable shared a vibrant image with the text “20 MILLION FROM @burnaboygram,” accompanied by the caption, “If you wanna be like Odogwu can you do like adogwu,” a nod to Burna Boy’s popular nickname, “Odogwu.”

For those unfamiliar, “Odogwu” is an Igbo word meaning a great or influential leader, often tied to wealth, power, and respect—a fitting moniker for Burna Boy, who has long embraced this title in his music and public persona.

This generous act isn’t Burna Boy’s first rodeo when it comes to supporting fellow artists. Back in 2023, he reportedly handed 1.5 million naira to Young Duu in a nightclub, showcasing his penchant for lavish gestures.

However, the context of this gift adds layers of intrigue. Speed Darlington, who hails from Arondizuogu in Imo State, has a well-documented history of friction with Burna Boy.

Their feud escalated in 2024 when Speed Darlington was detained for five days in Lagos after Burna Boy filed a complaint against him for alleged defamation and cyberstalking.

The arrest, which followed Speed Darlington’s provocative comments, ignited debates about freedom of expression in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Portable’s victory and the subsequent reward have only fueled the ongoing drama. Social media reactions on X range from amusement to skepticism, with some users joking that Akpi might retaliate, while others speculate about Portable’s loyalty to Burna Boy.

This saga underscores the volatile yet captivating nature of Nigerian celebrity culture, where music, rivalry, and spectacle collide.