Burna Boy makes UK chart history as I Told Them… debuts at Number 1.
Burna Boy is Sittin’ on Top of the World right now as he becomes the first-ever international Afrobeats artist to secure a UK Number 1 album with I Told Them… the Official Charts Company confirmed this on Friday.
The Nigerian-born phenomenon, real name Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, storms straight to the summit with his fifth full-length release, having previously enjoyed success with 2019’s African Giant (19), 2020 release Twice As Tall (11) and coming close to the top with 2022’s Love, Damini (2).
The Afrobeats genre has continued to grow globally in recent years, with its sound increasingly infiltrating the UK Official Charts and shaping popular culture, from global superstars like Wizkid and Davido to rising artist Libianca. While homegrown British talent such as J Hus have enjoyed chart-topping success on the Official Albums Chart, Burna Boy becomes the first international Afrobeats star to cement such a place in UK chart history.
The ‘African Giant’ crooner was presented with a plaque by the British record chart company in commemoration of his record.
“He told them! @burnaboy makes UK chart HISTORY today as he claims his first Number 1 album,” the company tweeted.
An excited Burna Boy quoted the tweet with the caption, “Let’s Have It! #ITOLDTHEM #ITOLDTHEMNUMBER1.”
Burna Boy took to the stage at a packed London Roundhouse tonight with his Number 1 Award in hand. On the significance of his achievement, he told the crowd “This right here, this means more to me than any of you can imagine because where I come from is a colony of this place. For me to be here today with the Number 1, that just tells you that anything is f***ing possible. So this right here is a big thank you to every one of you because you made this possible. Without you, none of this is happening.”
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive, Official Charts comments:
“What a fantastic achievement it is by Burna Boy to become the first international artist to take Afrobeats to the top of the UK’s Official Albums Chart. British music fans have always been renowned for their love of new music and embracing cultures from around the world, and the explosion of interest in Afrobeats’ musical culture over the past decade has been a concrete example of this.
“It has been fantastic to see Burna Boy blazing the trail as part of this – and this week reaching the absolute pinnacle. Congratulations to Burna Boy!”
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