Burna Boy achieved a historic milestone over the weekend as the first African artist to headline a stadium show in the UK. A sold-out crowd of 60,000 fans at the London Stadium enthusiastically sang along to the Grammy award-winner’s Afrobeats lyrics. Burna Boy delivered an impressive two-hour set, surprising the audience by bringing out famous friends such as Stormzy and Dave, who performed with him on a giant merry-go-round.

Afrobeats, a fusion of African and Western influences, has experienced a tremendous surge in popularity in recent years, largely due to artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid. Both Nigerian superstars have headlined major music festivals worldwide, but it was Burna Boy who took it to another level with his historic show on Saturday night.

Burna Boy’s stadium show featured other notable performers such as J Hus, and Popcaan, showcasing the star power and influence of Afrobeats. The absence of warm-up acts emphasized how far the genre has come.

The sell-out of a UK stadium is a monumental moment for Afrobeats, which has been gaining global recognition and dominating music charts, as well as inspiring TikTok dance challenges. Prominent artists such as Beyoncé and Drake have embraced the genre, featuring Afrobeats artists on their albums. The Official Charts company reported that Afrobeats songs now spend nearly ten times as many weeks in the top 40 compared to two years ago.

Burna Boy’s impact is evident in the charts, with his hit “Last Last” reaching number four on the Official Singles Chart Top 40, and Rema’s “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez currently sitting at number three. Burna Boy has also made his mark on the Official UK Afrobeats Chart, which launched on BBC Radio 1Xtra in 2020.

Continuing his Afrobeats journey, Burna Boy is set to perform at the Champions League final in Istanbul, bringing the vibrant sounds of the genre to an even broader international audience.