Nigerian artist Burna Boy, born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has made history by becoming the first international Afrobeats artist to attain a number one album in the United Kingdom with his latest release, “I Told Them…,” according to the UK’s Official Charts Company.
This achievement comes after Burna Boy’s near-miss with his previous album, “Love, Damini,” which reached second place in the UK album rankings.
While British talents who create Afrobeats music, like J Hus, have enjoyed chart-topping success in the UK, Burna Boy’s feat signifies the first time a foreign artist has achieved this milestone.
The success of Afrobeats in Britain reflects the genre’s global rise, with artists such as Wizkid and Davido also gaining mainstream recognition and influencing segments of popular culture.
Martin Talbot, CEO of the Official Charts Company, commended Burna Boy for blazing a trail and attaining this fantastic achievement.
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He noted, “British music fans have always been renowned for their love of new music and embracing cultures from around the world, and the explosion of interest in Afrobeats’ musical culture over the past decade has been a concrete example of this.”
Afrobeats, originating from the Afrobeat genre popularized by Fela Kuti in the 1970s, has garnered worldwide attention.
Western audiences were introduced to the genre in 2016 through the hit “One Dance,” featuring Canadian superstar Drake and Wizkid, which became the most streamed song on Spotify with over one billion streams.
In addition to Burna Boy, Nigerian and Ghanaian musicians are making significant strides in the global music scene, with artists like Gyakie, Joey B, KiDi, Sarkodie, and Shatta Wale gaining prominence and recognition on social media platforms.