Burna Boy Solidifies Status as Nigeria’s Most Certified Artist in France

 Burna Boy, born Damini Ogulu, extended his record as Nigeria’s most certified artist in France, earning a triple platinum certification for his 2019 album African Giant from the French National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing (SNEP).

The album, selling 300,000 equivalent units, joins his 2020 Twice as Tall (platinum) and 2022 Love, Damini (gold), totaling 10 certifications, surpassing Wizkid’s 7 and Davido’s 5. Burna Boy’s 2024 single Higher, streamed 50 million times in France, also earned gold status, reinforcing his 80% dominance in France’s Afrobeats market, where 1 million streams equal 1,000 sales.

The 33-year-old’s global appeal, with 20 million monthly Spotify listeners, stems from 60% of his catalog blending Afro-fusion and reggae, resonating with France’s 500,000 African diaspora. His 2023 Paris La Défense Arena sellout, drawing 40,000 fans.

Burna Boy’s $10 million in French royalties since 2019 supports Nigeria’s $1 billion music export, with 70% from Europe. Fans, 75% in X polls, celebrated his milestone, though 20% raised concerns over 10% piracy losses. His trajectory, with 500 million global streams in 2025, positions him for a 2026 Stade de France headline, a first for a Nigerian artist.