Burna Boy’s London Stadium Claim Ignites Fresh Debate Among Afrobeats Fans

Burna Boy is once again at the centre of online conversation after comments about his historic London Stadium concert sparked widespread debate across social media.

The Afrobeats superstar made the statement while presenting his official London Stadium Sold Out plaque to engineer and longtime associate Matthew Tonlagha, in honour of Tonlagha’s 50th birthday. What was meant to be a celebratory moment quickly became a trending topic because of the way Burna Boy described his achievement.

While handing over the plaque, the Grammy-winning artist said:

“In 2023, as we all know, I was the only one that attempted and succeeded in selling out the London Stadium in Africa. This right here means history, and you are history.”

The plaque recognises Burna Boy’s June 2023 stop on his Love, Damini tour, where he headlined and sold out the 80,000-capacity London Stadium. The milestone cemented him as the first African artist to achieve that feat at the iconic venue.

However, his wording has divided fans and industry watchers. Some praised Burna Boy for confidently owning his accomplishments, while others felt the statement indirectly shaded fellow Nigerian superstars Wizkid and Davido, who have also made major strides on global stages.

The moment has added new fuel to the long-running “Big Three” debate in Nigerian music, which often compares Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido in terms of influence, international reach, and live performance milestones.

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As Afrobeats continues its global rise, Burna Boy’s comments highlight both the pride and the rivalry that come with breaking new ground. Whether fans agree with his phrasing or not, his London Stadium sell-out remains one of the most significant live achievements in African music history.