Burna Boy has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first international Afrobeats artist to secure a UK Number 1 album with “I Told Them.”
This Nigerian-born phenomenon, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, previous releases “African Giant” in 2019 and “Twice As Tall” in 2020 and Love, Damini peaked at No. 19, 11 and No. 2 respectively.
The rise of the Afrobeats genre globally has been evident in the UK Official Charts, with artists like Wizkid, Davido, and Libianca contributing to its popularity. While British talent like J Hus has also enjoyed chart-topping success, Burna Boy’s achievement cements his place as a trailblazing international Afrobeats star in the UK.
Burna now has three of 6 highest peaking Nigerian albums in Official Chart history;
2. Burna Boy — “Love, Damini”
10. Davido — “Timeless”
11. Burna Boy — “Twice As Tall”
15. Wizkid — “Made in Lagos”
16. Burna Boy — “African Giant”
In recognition of the genre’s growth, the Official UK Afrobeats Chart was launched in collaboration with Afro Nation in the summer of 2020. This chart is now broadcast on BBC Radio 1xtra every Sunday and has become an integral part of showcasing Afrobeats talent.
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of Official Charts, commends Burna Boy’s achievement and the British music scene’s embrace of diverse cultures. Faron McKenzie, Head of BBC Radio 1Xtra, expresses pride in being part of the global Afrobeats movement. Austin Daboh, Vice President of Atlantic Records UK, acknowledges Burna Boy’s transformation into a global superstar and attributes the success of “I Told Them” to a combination of world-class music, cultural strategy, and unwavering commitment from Burna Boy and his team at Atlantic Records.
