Manny Ita
Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has officially set a new record for the highest-grossing tour by an African artist. Data released by the analytics platform Touring Data confirms that his “I Told Them” world tour generated a total of $30.5 million in gross revenue from 302,801 tickets sold across 22 shows in Europe and North America. “@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,” the platform reported. The revenue was nearly evenly split between the two regions, with North American performances earning $15.19 million from 16 shows and European dates generating $15.27 million from six concerts.
A primary driver of this financial milestone was the singer’s performance at the London Stadium on June 29, 2024, which drew 58,973 attendees and grossed $6.147 million. This single event has been recognized as the highest-grossing concert by any African musician in history. Additional high-revenue stops included performances at the Stade de France in Paris, which earned $4.5 million, and a sold-out show at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., which grossed $1.7 million. The tour saw an average ticket sale rate of approximately 86 per cent, solidifying Burna Boy’s position as a premier global touring act and setting a new benchmark for the continent’s cultural exports.
This commercial success coincides with Burna Boy’s continued prominence in the 2026 awards circuit, following his multiple nominations for the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The artist secured a nod for Best Global Music Album for his eighth studio project, No Sign of Weakness, and a nomination for Best African Music Performance for his hit single “Love.” Industry analysts currently cite him as a frontrunner for the Global Music category, noting that his consistent critical and commercial output has placed him in a unique class among contemporary African performers. With the awards ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026, the artist’s recent touring data serves as a significant indicator of his expansive global reach and influence.
