\n\tBillboard has announced the launch of its first French edition.\u00a0The new venture is licensed by So Press. Billboard France\u00a0marks the 12th\u00a0global edition of\u00a0Billboard.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n\tIn the Parisian night, an imposing entourage makes its way to the photo studio. About 10 people \u2013 assistants, photographers, and collaborators \u2013 orbit around a familiar silhouette. The studio door opens to reveal Burna Boy, accompanied by his sister Ronami, an inseparable figure in his success, who combines the roles of manager, stylist and advisor with unwavering conviction. There\u2019s an obvious quality to his charisma \u2013 the kind that shifts the energy of a place as soon as the person enters. \n\tFrom promising beginnings in 2012 with the single \u201cLike To Party\u201d to a noteworthy first album, L.I.F.E<\/em>, released in 2013. However, it was from 2017 that his career took on an international dimension. Mainstream global audiences discovered him during a collaboration with Drake on \u201cMore Life\u201d in 2017. He followed with three major albums (Outside, African Giant, and Twice as Tall) while delivering well-chosen features like \u201cJerusalema\u201d with Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode, and \u201cBe Honest\u201d and \u201cLocation\u201d with British artists Jorja Smith and Dave, respectively.<\/p>\n \n\tAfter filling La D\u00e9fense 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, the starting point of a European tour of about 10 dates.<\/p>\n \n\tFrance holds a special place in Burna Boy\u2019s career. It\u2019s the third country where he\u2019s most listened to, behind the United States and the United Kingdom. According to the SNEP (Syndicat national de l\u2019\u00e9dition phonographique, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing), the has 11 certified singles in France and has already been streamed more than 700 million times there.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s a celebration of African excellence and proof that our music knows no boundaries,\u201d he confides, showing pride in being the first non-French-speaking African artist to perform in the legendary venue. \u201d It\u2019s not just about me as an artist but about representing a continent, a culture, and a people whose stories deserve to be heard on the biggest stages in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIn 2019, he proclaimed himself African Giant. Today, the title seems trivial compared to the scale of his triumph. Burna Boy\u2019s journey illustrates that of an outsider, a meteoric rise from Port Harcourt to the heights of international music. Initially an English-speaking breakthrough that today knows no boundaries.<\/p>\n \n\tMore than a decade after Burna Boy\u2019s rise with L.I.F.E<\/em>, Nigerian music has established itself as a major force in global popular culture. Afrobeats, a genre of which he has become the most respected ambassador, transcends geographical, linguistic and cultural boundaries. Vevo even reported that in 2023, views of Afrobeats and Amapiano tracks increased by 61%, exceeding four billion. As reported by IFPI, Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the fastest-growing music industry (the only one exceeding 20% growth in 2023).<\/p>\n \n\tBurna Boy\u2019s Grammy Award, which he keeps on a dedicated table at home, also demonstrates a new American appetite for the Nigerian sound. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about recognition\u2014it\u2019s what it symbolizes. It represents the power of staying true to yourself, breaking boundaries, and proving that African music belongs on the global stage. It\u2019s a reminder that our culture and art are worthy of the highest honors.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHe returns this new American recognition well by inviting GZA for a feature on the title track of his latest album, I Told Them.<\/em> On this album, he openly samples great American artists (Toni Braxton, Brandy, Jeremih, among others). \u201cYes, it\u2019s intentional. Sampling is a way to pay homage to the sounds that shaped me while creating something new. It\u2019s about bridging cultures and showing that music is a universal language. I\u2019ll continue to experiment because growth and creativity go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHaving studied in London during high school, then briefly at Oxford Brookes during university, the English scene opened its doors to him first, and he\u2019s always known how to reciprocate. He looks fondly on this ecosystem whose Nigerian roots are also illustrated in music (he mentions J Hus, Dave, NSG, and Not3s). \u201cThey\u2019re carrying the torch in their own way. The UK has always had a deep connection with African music, and these artists are blending their experiences with Afrobeats influences to create something unique. It\u2019s a beautiful exchange of cultures, and it shows how far-reaching Afrobeats\u2019 impact is.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe resonance of Burna Boy\u2019s music is part of a larger movement. Since 2020, Afrobeat has spread westward thanks to crossover hits like CKay\u2019s \u201cLove Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)\u201d or Rema\u2019s \u201cCalm Down,\u201d which have exceeded a billion streams on Spotify. Nigeria is now the sixth best music-exporting country, and Burna Boy serves as the figurehead of a scene that has definitively conquered the world.<\/p>\n \n\tHe enthusiastically discusses this new generation of Nigerian artists who are breaking codes. \u201c[They\u2019re] fearless,\u201d he states. \u201cThey are experimenting with sounds and taking risks. It\u2019s interesting to see how they\u2019re building on the foundation. They\u2019re proof that Nigerian & indeed African music has no limits.\u201d As the genre gained popularity abroad, more Afrobeats artists began their first U.S. tours after lockdown.<\/p>\n \n\tAmong all of them, Burna has performed on the biggest stages \u2013 where real superstars are born. But this consecration can be frightening too, as Western stars have almost immediately embraced Nigerian sounds. An observation that doesn\u2019t scare Burna Boy: \u201cIn 10 years, if we are mindful to keep putting in the work, Afrobeats will be even more global, influencing every corner of the music industry. It will evolve, incorporating new sounds and ideas, but its essence\u2014our African roots\u2014will remain intact. I see it being a dominant force in shaping global pop culture.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHis view isn\u2019t limited to Nigeria. He observes with interest the emergence of French-speaking West African scenes: \u201c[They] are incredibly vibrant and full of talent. Artists from Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mali are creating something powerful by mixing their musical traditions with modern sounds.\u201d \n\t\u201cWhen you\u2019re honest in your music, people feel it, no matter where they\u2019re from.\u201d His extraordinary ability to transform personal experiences into anthems, as exemplified by \u201cLast Last,\u201d born from a romantic breakup, has indeed played a crucial role in Burna Boy\u2019s rise. His tracks are imbued with raw emotions of universal dimensions, explaining his global success.<\/p>\n \n\tHis next project (perhaps named \u201cNo Sign of Weakness\u201d if we believe some cryptic messages sent to his fans before Christmas), promises to explore new horizons and unprecedented spirituality in his music. \u201cIt\u2019s extrospective,\u201d he reveals. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about me but about looking outward, reflecting on the world, and how my experiences connect to the bigger picture. It\u2019s about growth, understanding, and challenging perceptions while staying true to who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHe supports organizations like R.E.A.C.Hng that work with disadvantaged communities in Nigeria and created the ProjectPROTECT fund which helps those wrongfully detained in cases of police violence. \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed,\u201d he acknowledges, \u201cand I believe it\u2019s my responsibility to use my platform to uplift others.\u201d Politics permeates Burna Boy\u2019s tracks, particularly through his songs \u201cWetin Man Go Do\u201d and \u201cAnother Story.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThis social consciousness comes with a deep sense of family. His mother Bose and sister Ronami play crucial roles in his career. \u201cThey\u2019re my pillar,\u201d he affirms. \u201cThey understand me not just as an artist but as a person, and they push me to be the best version of myself. Working with them is natural because we share a bond and a vision that goes beyond business. It also has its headaches as do all relationships but I\u2019m the better for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAs his French fans await a historic show at the Stade de France, Burna Boy more than ever embodies an era where African music dictates global trends. But it\u2019s almost carried by an uncontrollable wave that his eighth album arrives, to once again redefine the limits of the genre.<\/p>\n
In recent years, Burna Boy has been particularly prolific, allowing himself few moments of respite. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, he comes from a family deeply rooted in music (his grandfather was the manager of legend Fela Kuti).<\/p>\n\n\t\tFigurehead of Nigerian Music\t<\/h2>\n
![\"Burna](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/do-not-reuse-03-Burna-Boy-x-BB-France-cr-Xiaoyi-Dai-billboard-1240.jpg?w=819\")
\n\t\tThe Anglo-Saxon World As a Leitmotif\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tAfrican Music Conquering the World\t<\/h2>\n
We take the opportunity to ask his view on French artists in general. The answer will surprise many: \u201cI\u2019ve always admired artists like Stromae, Matt Pokora, Tayc & Aya to mention a few. Their ability to tell stories and push creative boundaries resonates with me. French music has a unique depth, and it\u2019s influenced how I approach my own storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\tRefocusing on Raw Emotions\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tThe Pillars of His Life\t<\/h2>\n
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