100 artists to see before you die: Burna Boy

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At 32, Burna Boy is already a legend. Since he released his debut album ‘L.I.F.E.’ in 2023, the Nigerian artist has honed a unique and influential sound he calls “Afro-fusion”. Topped off with crisp, quotable lyrics, this infectious blend of Afrobeats, reggae, R&B, hip-hop, pop and dancehall has made Burna a global superstar who storms the charts without compromising his vision. When he sings “I told ’em I’m a giant – real African giant” on last year’s ‘I Told Them…’, it’s not so much a brag as a fact.

What to expect

Burna Boy is a born showman with bags of energy. On stage, he pours it into everything from star jumps to high kicks to a shuffling dance move fans call the “Afro moonwalk”. Real name Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, he also likes to show off his musicianship by playing a steelpan during instrumental sections. His red hot band The Outsiders have the chops to keep up with him and his dynamic backing vocalists aren’t the kind to stand still. Burna likes to create a carnival-style atmosphere and this party rages for up to two hours.

Last year, Burna made history when he became the first African artist to sell out a stadium show in the UK. He made his landmark gig at the London Stadium even more special by bringing out UK superstars Dave, J Hus and Stormzy – all past collaborators. He was clearly relishing the occasion, but Burna doesn’t need special guests to light up an arena. His magnetic stage presence does that all on its own.

His best moments

Glastonbury, 2022

Handed a prime Saturday night slot on the Other Stage, Burna didn’t mess about. His incendiary set was peppered with fireworks, flamethrowers and a confetti cannon, plus dynamite backing vocals from a high-energy choir. Little wonder that Glastonbury has booked him again this year – and on the Pyramid Stage, no less.

UEFA Champions League Final, 2023

Burna made history again when he became the first African artist to play the Champions League Final. Kicking things off at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium, he delivered blistering renditions of ‘Last Last’ and ‘It’s Plenty’ before Anitta, his co-headliner, sang her reggaeton-flavoured bop ‘Envolver’. It was yet more proof that he thrives on the grandest stages.

Grammys, 2024

In 2021, Burna cemented his global superstar status by winning the Grammy for Best Global Album (for his fifth studio set ‘Twice As Tall’). Three years later, with four nominations to his name, he delivered a jubilant medley of ‘On Form’, ‘City Boys’ and ‘Sitting On Top Of The World’. For the latter, he was joined by 21 Savage and R&B queen Brandy, whose 1998 hit ‘Top Of The World’ Burna samples. It was another milestone moment for the Nigerian icon.

His biggest bangers

‘For My Hand’, 2022

Burna and Ed Sheeran both feature on Stormzy’s 2019 chart-topper ‘Own It’, so it was no great surprise when the pair teamed up again. Here, their voices blend infectiously on a sun-kissed love song that shows off Burna’s softer side. Sheeran brought him out when he played Wembley Stadium last year, giving Burna another chance to shine in an iconic venue.

‘Last Last’, 2022

This Afrobeats banger is built on a chunky sample from Toni Braxton‘s Y2K classic ‘He Wasn’t Man Enough’. It’s not just one of Burna’s catchiest tracks, but also one of his most vulnerable and revealing. In the chorus, he sings about drowning his sorrows with “shayo” – alcohol – after saying “bye-bye to the love of my life”. Released in May 2022, it became his first solo Top 10 hit.

‘City Boys’, 2023

A sparkling mix of hip-hop and Afrobeats, ‘City Boys’ has an intro from UK rapper J Hus and a sample from Jeremih‘s R&B banger ‘Birthday Sex’. Fittingly enough, Burna’s lyrics go hard on his own sexual prowess. When he slips in a reference to “London Bridge”, he definitely doesn’t mean the train station.

Setlist study

At his headline shows, Burna Boy typically rattles through around 30 tracks. He has seven studio albums to pick from, but expect a generous helping from his latest album, ‘I Told Them…’. It became his first UK Number One when it dropped last August so Burna will definitely want to toast its success. He tends to sprinkle huge hits like ‘Ye’ and ‘Last Last’ in the closing stretch to make sure fans leave feeling hoarse and happy.

Where to see him next

JUNE 2024
29 – London Stadium, London

In July 2023, Burna became the first African artist to headline a stadium show in the UK. Just under a year later, he’s sealing his A-list status by playing the same massive venue again. What surprises does he have up his sleeve? We probably won’t know until the night. According to viagogo data, fans from 34 countries have bought tickets so far, so it’ll definitely be an international affair. Only Atlanta and Boston have sold more tickets for his 2024 tour.

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