Somto BisinaBurna Boy, also known as Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has become the first international Afrobeats artist to secure the number one spot on the British charts with his latest album, “I Told Them…,” as confirmed by the UK’s Official Charts Company.
This significant milestone in Burna Boy’s career came as no surprise to his dedicated fan base and music enthusiasts who have witnessed his remarkable rise in the music industry.
The 32-year-old Nigerian artist, who has been steadily building his global presence, shot straight to the top of the UK charts with his fifth full-length release.
Interestingly, he had come close to achieving this accolade with his previous album, “Love, Damini,” which reached the second spot in the UK album rankings.
While the UK has seen homegrown talents like J Hus achieve chart-topping success within the Afrobeats genre, Burna Boy’s achievement marks the first time a foreign artist has claimed the number one position.
This accomplishment not only highlights Burna Boy’s talent but also underscores the ever-increasing influence and popularity of Afrobeats in Britain and worldwide.
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Martin Talbot, the chief executive of the Official Charts Company, applauded Burna Boy for “blazing the trail” and achieving this “fantastic achievement.”
He noted that British music fans have a long history of embracing new music and cultures from around the world, making the rise of Afrobeats over the past decade a clear testament to their open-mindedness and musical diversity.
Western audiences were introduced to the infectious Afrobeats sound in 2016 with the release of “One Dance,” a collaboration between Canadian superstar Drake and Nigerian artist Wizkid.
This hit single became the most-played song of all time on Spotify, amassing over one billion streams and further solidifying Afrobeats’ place on the global music stage.
In addition to Burna Boy and Wizkid, other African artists, particularly those from Nigeria and Ghana, have been making waves in the international music scene.
Musicians like Gyakie, Joey B, KiDi, Sarkodie, and Shatta Wale have garnered substantial social media followings and are steadily gaining prominence worldwide.
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