American rapper Fat Joe has disclosed that the Nigerian singer BNXN, formerly known as Buju, changed his stage name following pressure and concerns over name identity in the global music space.
The revelation comes as fresh attention resurfaces around how the Afrobeats star rebranded his career identity in 2021, moving away from “Buju” to BNXN (pronounced Benson).
“There is a fake guy in Africa using the Buju name, we dissed him on TV, shut him down, he changed his name. I told him there is only one Buju Banton,” he said.
Buju Banton, in his response, explained that his name carries deep personal meaning, stressing that it was given to him by his mother.
“Most people get their names from their friends or coin it. But my name came from my mom. Then I added Banton due to my admiration for Burr Banton,” he said.
BNXN had initially built his career under the name Buju before eventually rebranding, a move widely linked to trademark concerns and growing international scrutiny.
The development reflects the increasing global attention on Afrobeats and the need for clear identity as Nigerian artists continue to expand their reach across international markets.
