In the Parisian night, an imposing procession winds its way towards a Parisian photo studio. A dozen people – assistants, photographers and collaborators – gravitate around a familiar silhouette. The studio door opens on Burna Boy, accompanied by his sister Ronami. An inseparable figure in his success, she combines the roles of manager, stylist, advisor with unwavering conviction. There is a kind of obviousness in his charisma – the kind that changes the energy of a place as soon as the person enters it.
In recent years, Burna Boy has been particularly prolific, allowing himself few moments of respite. Although he had a promising start in 2012 with the single Like To Party, a noted first album, L.I.F.E, released in 2013, it was from 2017 that his career took on an international dimension. The mainstream public discovered him during a collaboration with Drake on More Life in 2017. He continued with three major albums (Outside, African Giant and Twice as Tall) while chaining together well-felt featurings: Jerusalema (with Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode) or Be Honest and Location respectively with the British Jorja Smith and Dave. Studying in London during his high school, then at Oxford Brookes during a brief university course, the English scene opened its doors to him first, and he has always known how to give back.
“The victory of a continent, a culture and a people”
After selling out La Défense Arena and its 40,000 seats in May 2023, the Nigerian artist is preparing to take on a new challenge: the Stade de France, on April 18, 2025. It is the starting point of a European tour of around ten dates.
France holds a special place in Burna Boy’s career. It is the third country where he is listened to the most, behind the United States and the United Kingdom. He has 8 singles certified in France and has already sold a quarter of a million albums there according to the Syndicat national de l’édition phonographique.
“It is a testimony to the evolution of African music and its unlimited potential,” he confides, not a little proud to be the first non-French-speaking African artist to perform in the legendary venue. “This is not just a personal victory, but that of an entire continent, a culture and a people whose stories deserve to be heard on the world’s greatest stages.”
Figurehead of Nigerian music
In 2019, he proclaimed himself African Giant. Today, the title seems weak in the face of the magnitude of the triumph. Burna Boy’s journey illustrates that of an outsider, a meteoric rise from Port Harcourt to the heights of international music. A breakthrough that was initially English-speaking, but which today knows no borders.
Afrofusion, that’s what he calls this style that he has been perfecting since his first beats created on FruityLoops. A mix of Afrobeat, dancehall, R&B, reggae and hip-hop, he draws on a life now lived between London and Lagos. The stadiums he fills today around the world illustrate the rise of an artist who has become a global icon. Impressive in terms of listening figures (more than 7 billion Spotify streams), his growing success demonstrates a rare musical ability. But also an ability to transcend cultural barriers while carrying the musical heritage of his country.
More than a decade after Burna Boy’s advent with L.I.F.E, Nigerian music is establishing itself as a major force in global popular culture. Afrobeats, the genre of which he has become the most respected ambassador, is breaking free of geographical, linguistic and cultural boundaries. The platform Vevo reported that in 2023, views of Afrobeats and Amapiano tracks had increased by 61%, surpassing 4 billion. According to the IFPI, sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the fastest growing music industry (the only one to exceed 20% in 2023).
Burna Boy’s Grammy Award, which he keeps preciously on a dedicated table at home, also demonstrates a new American appeal for the Nigerian sound. “It’s not just about recognition – it’s what it symbolizes. It represents the ability to stay true to yourself, to push the boundaries, and to prove that African music has its place on the world stage. It is a reminder that our culture and our art deserve the highest honors. ”
He returns this new American recognition by inviting GZA (rapper member of the Wu-Tang Clan) to feature on the eponymous track of his latest album, I Told Them. On the latter, he unabashedly samples great American artists (including Toni Braxton, Brandy, Jeremih). “It was a desire. Sampling is a way of paying homage to the sounds that shaped me while creating something new. It’s about building bridges between cultures and showing that music is a universal language. I want to continue experimenting, because you can’t create without reinventing yourself.”
The Anglo-Saxon world as a leitmotif
The original demarcation that Burna crossed: that of the United Kingdom. He takes a tender look at this entire ecosystem whose Nigerian roots are also illustrated in music (he cites J Hus, Dave, NSG, and Not3s). “They carry the torch in their own way. The United Kingdom has always had a deep connection with African music, and these artists mix their experiences with the influences of Afrobeat to create something unique. It’s a wonderful cultural mix that illustrates the growing influence of Afrobeat.”
African music is taking over the world
The impact of Burna Boy’s music is part of a larger movement. Since 2020, Afrobeat has spread to the West thanks to crossover hits like CKay’s Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah) and Rema’s Calm Down, which have surpassed a billion streams on Spotify. Nigeria is now the 6th largest exporter of its music, and Burna Boy is the figurehead of a scene that has definitively conquered the world.
“They are fearless,” speaking of the new generation of Nigerian artists. “They experiment with sounds, they take risks. It’s proof that African music has no limits.” As the genre gained popularity abroad, more Afrobeat artists have, post-lockdown, embarked on their first tours in the United States. Among all of them, Burna has performed on the biggest stages – where superstars are truly born.
An almost frightening consecration, which Western stars seized almost immediately. A finding that does not scare Burna Boy: “If we continue to work seriously, Afrobeat will be even more global in 10 years, influencing every corner of the music industry. The genre will evolve naturally. By integrating new sounds and ideas, but its essence – our African roots – will remain intact. I see it becoming a dominant force that will shape global pop culture.”
His gaze is not limited to Nigeria. He observes with interest the emergence of Francophone scenes in West Africa: “[They] are incredibly vibrant and full of talent. Artists from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Mali are creating something powerful by mixing their musical traditions with modern sounds.”
We take the opportunity to ask him his opinion on French artists in general. The answer will surprise many: “I have always admired artists like Stromae, Matt Pokora, Tayc and Aya, to name a few. Their ability to tell stories and push creative boundaries really moves me. French music has a unique depth, and it has influenced the way I approach my own storytelling.”
Refocusing on raw emotions
“When you’re honest in your music, people feel it, no matter where they’re from.” His extraordinary ability to transform personal experiences into anthems, like Last Last, born out of a breakup, has played a crucial role in Burna Boy’s rise to fame. His songs are imbued with raw emotions with universal dimensions, explaining his global success.
His next project, perhaps called No Sign of Weakness if we are to believe some cryptic messages sent to his fans before Christmas, promises to explore new horizons, and a new spirituality in his music. “It’s an album that looks outward,” he reveals. “It’s not just about me, but about my vision of the world and how my experiences fit into a bigger picture.”
The pillars of his life
He supports charities like R.E.A.C.H. that work with underprivileged communities in Nigeria, and founded the PROTECT fund that helps those wrongfully detained in connection with police brutality. “I’ve been blessed,” he acknowledges, “and I believe it’s my responsibility to use my popularity to uplift others.” Politics permeates Burna Boy’s songs, particularly in his tracks “Wetin Man Go Do” and “Another Story.”
“They are my pillar.” This social conscience is accompanied by a deep sense of family. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, he comes from a family with deep roots in music (his grandfather managed the legend Fela Kuti). His mother Bose and sister Ronami play crucial roles in his career: “They understand me not only as an artist but as a person, and push me to be the best version of myself.” Working with them is so natural. We share a bond and a vision that goes beyond business. As in any relationship, we have a few arguments (laughs). But I come out of it stronger every time.”
While his French fans are waiting for a historic show at the Stade de France, Burna Boy embodies more than ever an era where African music is at the forefront of global trends. But it is almost carried by an uncontrollable wave that his 8th album arrives, to once again redefine the limits of the genre.
