Burna Boy becomes first Afrobeats star to top UK Official Albums Chart with ‘I Told Them’

‘I Told Them‘, the recently released album by Burna Boy, has secured the number one spot on the UK Official Albums Chart. 

In a blog post on Friday, the British music data platform said Burna Boy is now the first-ever international Afrobeats star to secure a “UK number 1 album”. 

“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,” the post reads in part. 

“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.”

Martin Talbot, Official Charts CEO, said Burna Boy’s feat is evidence that British music fans “embrace cultures from around the world”.

“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!” he added.

On his part, Faron McKenzie, head of BBC Radio 1Xtra, said: “Huge congratulations to Burna Boy. It has been a phenomenal year for Afrobeats, and I am so proud that BBC 1Xtra are a part of this global movement as the home of the UK’s Official Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi”.

Burna Boy released ‘I Told Them,’ his seventh music project, last week.

The body of work has, however, attracted a mixed bag of accolades and criticism from fans and critics alike.

‘I Told Them’ follows after the success of ‘Love, Damini’ (2022), Burna Boy’s sixth album.

Born Damini Ogulu, Burna Boy started to gain fame after releasing ‘Like to Party’, the lead single from his debut album ‘L.I.F.E’ (2013).