British rapper Stephanie Victoria Allen, popularly known as Stefflon Don, has publicly praised the President of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, for his bold leadership and nationalist economic policies.
The music star, known for her previous relationship with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, took to Instagram to express admiration for Traore’s governance, calling him “The real Giant of Africa.”
In her post to over 4.1 million followers, Stefflon Don shared a photo of President Traore and commended the reforms he has implemented in Burkina Faso. Her comment came in response to several decisive actions taken by Traore, including halting the export of unrefined gold to Europe, establishing a national gold refinery to retain value within the country, and rejecting loans from international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
President Traore has also reportedly paid off local debts and initiated efforts to reduce Burkina Faso’s reliance on foreign aid. Among his notable domestic policies is the introduction of free education for citizens—an initiative that has drawn attention globally and contributed to growing support from both within and outside Africa.
Stefflon Don’s praise sparked reactions online, with many interpreting her comments as a subtle jab at Burna Boy, who famously branded himself the “African Giant.” Some netizens agreed with her sentiment, highlighting Traore’s proactive leadership in contrast to Burna Boy’s perceived reluctance to engage in activism, despite his cultural influence.
Her statement, “The real Giant of Africa,” has since fueled conversations across social media, with many weighing in on the evolving definitions of leadership, impact, and representation in Africa.
Recall that Stefflon Don and Burna Boy began dating in 2019 after meeting in Ghana.
They officially split in 2021 but have been on/off ever since.
