 |
| Image: Google |
Nigerian music superstar Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has added another historic achievement to his career after his I Told Them world tour was officially recognised as the highest-grossing tour ever recorded by an African artist.
Fresh data released by a global tour-tracking platform shows that the tour generated an impressive $30.5 million, with a total of 302,801 tickets sold across 22 shows held in major cities across Europe and North America. The milestone places Burna Boy at the very top of touring African musicians in terms of commercial performance.
Announcing the feat, the platform stated:
“@burnaboy’s ‘I Told Them…’ is officially the highest-grossing tour by any Afrobeat artist in history, with $30.5 million from 302,801 tickets sold in 22 shows.”
Beyond the overall tour success, the Grammy-winning singer also set a new individual concert record. His landmark performance at London Stadium on June 29, 2024, emerged as the highest-grossing single show ever by an African act. The concert reportedly generated $6.147 million from 58,973 tickets, making it a defining moment not only in his career but also in the global history of African music touring.
The London Stadium concert formed a major highlight of the I Told Them… Tour, drawing fans from across the United Kingdom and beyond. The event further strengthened Burna Boy’s reputation as a performer capable of filling some of the world’s largest venues while delivering high-energy, culturally rooted performances.
A closer look at the tour’s financial breakdown reveals a strong balance between continents. The North American leg of the tour accounted for $15.19 million, with 152,378 tickets sold across 16 shows. Meanwhile, the European leg generated $15.27 million, selling 150,423 tickets from six concerts. The figures reflect Burna Boy’s growing dominance in both markets and his expanding global fanbase.
Music analysts have noted that the near-equal revenue split between Europe and North America highlights the consistency of his international appeal, especially at a time when Afrobeats continues to gain mainstream recognition worldwide. The tour’s success also underscores how African artists are increasingly commanding large-scale arenas traditionally dominated by Western pop acts.
On the global stage, however, Burna Boy’s record still sits within a wider context of international touring history. American pop icon Taylor Swift currently holds the title for the highest-grossing tour of all time. Her Eras Tour reportedly amassed about $2 billion from 149 shows over 21 months, more than doubling the previous record set by Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. While the figures are on a different scale, Burna Boy’s achievement represents a major milestone for African music in that global conversation.
The success of the I Told Them… Tour further reinforces Burna Boy’s position as one of Africa’s most influential and commercially powerful artists. Over the years, he has consistently pushed boundaries, blending Afro-fusion with global sounds while maintaining strong African identity in his music.
Beyond chart success and streaming numbers, the tour’s record-breaking performance highlights the growing economic power of African music on the world stage. It also reflects the increasing willingness of international audiences to embrace African artists not just as niche acts, but as global headliners capable of selling out stadiums and arenas.
As Burna Boy continues to expand his reach through international collaborations, festival appearances, and large-scale tours, industry observers believe this latest milestone could serve as a benchmark for the next generation of African artists seeking global recognition.
With the I Told Them… Tour now etched into music history, Burna Boy has once again demonstrated why he remains one of Africa’s most formidable cultural exports, setting standards that continue to redefine what is possible for artists from the continent.
#BurnaBoy
#NollywoodTimes
#IToldThemTour
No comments:
Post a Comment