Lagos, Nigeria – Nigerian superstar Burna Boy (real name Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu) has etched his name in music history as his 'I Told Them...' tour, supporting his 2023 seventh studio album of the same name, officially became the highest-grossing tour ever by an African or Afrobeats artist. The announcement, made on December 29-30, 2025, by renowned tour-tracking platform Touring Data, confirms the tour generated $30.5 million from 302,801 tickets sold across 22 reported shows in Europe and North America.
Touring Data declared: “@burnaboy’s ‘I Told Them…’ is officially the highest-grossing tour by any Afrobeats artist in history, with $30.5 million from 302,801 tickets sold in 22 shows.” This feat surpasses previous benchmarks set by fellow African artists, including estimates around $25 million for Wizkid's Made in Lagos tour, solidifying Burna Boy's position as a global trailblazer.
A detailed breakdown reveals balanced success across continents: the North American leg contributed $15.19 million from 152,378 tickets over 16 shows, while Europe added $15.27 million from 150,423 tickets in six shows. The tour, which ran primarily from late 2023 into 2024 with extensions, featured high-energy performances blending Afrobeats, reggae, and hip-hop elements, captivating international audiences.
Adding to the accolades, Burna Boy's headline show at London Stadium on June 29, 2024, grossed a record-breaking $6.147 million from 58,973 tickets, marking the highest-grossing single concert by any African artist in history. This performance, part of the tour, drew massive crowds and featured guest appearances, further amplifying its cultural impact. Burna Boy became the first African act to headline a UK stadium multiple times, underscoring his dominance in European markets.
Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Burna Boy's rise has been marked by milestones: a Grammy win for Twice as Tall (2021), the first African artist to sell out Madison Square Garden (2022), and consistent chart-topping albums. The 'I Told Them...' album and tour title reflect his defiant response to industry doubters, proving African music's commercial viability on the world stage. With professional production, staging, and marketing rivaling Western peers, Burna Boy has set a blueprint for emerging Afrobeats stars.
This achievement highlights Afrobeats' explosive global growth, evolving from niche West African sounds to a dominant force in international music. Streaming platforms, diaspora support, and crossover collaborations have fueled the genre's export, with Burna Boy as its foremost ambassador—often self-styled as the "African Giant."
In perspective, while Burna Boy's $30.5 million is monumental for African music, the all-time highest-grossing tour record remains held by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which amassed over $2 billion across 149 shows spanning 21 months, doubling Elton John's previous Farewell Yellow Brick Road benchmark.
Industry observers note that live performances have become crucial revenue streams for African artists amid lagging streaming royalties in some regions. Burna Boy's success may encourage more investment in touring infrastructure, venue bookings, and promoter partnerships for acts from the continent.
As 2025 wraps up, this record cements Burna Boy's legacy and signals Afrobeats' enduring commercial power. Fans and critics alike celebrate not just the numbers, but the cultural shift: African stories, rhythms, and voices commanding global stages and wallets like never before.
