Burna Boy boosts Afrobeats craze with Grammys performance

The singer headed into the awards, now in their 66th edition, as the continent’s most nominated act, after securing nods for Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Global Music Album, Best Global Music Performance and Best African Music Performance.

Despite not winning any awards, the artist, the sole African artist featured in this year’s line-up, rendered a mash-up of three songs taken from his latest album I Told Them. Other programmed performing acts included Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo, among others.

Burna Boy’s performance was introduced by South African comedian and former The Daily Show host Trevor Noah, who returned as Grammys compère for the fourth consecutive year. Noah referred to the singer as the ‘African Giant’, an alias he adopted following the release of his fourth album of the same name.

For his costume, Burna Boy embraced a high school aesthetic, donning a baseball cap, a red jacket, faded denim jeans and boots as he took the stage. He was accompanied by instrumentalists and dancers attired in indigenous African clothing and ornaments.

The singer’s setlist included ‘On Form’, ‘City Boy’, and ‘Sittin on Top of the World’. For that last song, he was joined by US rapper 21 Savage and R&B singer Brandy. Among the focus tracks on his I Told Them album, ‘Sittin on Top of the World’ samples Brandy’s 1998 song ‘Top of the World’, which also samples American rapper Mase.

Burna Boy’s 2024 Grammys performance marked a comeback to the ceremony after he contributed a COVID-occasioned virtual performance medley of ‘Level Up,’ ‘Onyeka,’ and ‘Ye’ during the awards’ 63rd edition in 2021. During that ceremony, he took home the Best Global Music Album Award. By physically gracing the stage this year, he made history as Africa’s first Grammys performer. 

Meanwhile, South African singer Tyla became the maiden winner of the newly introduced Best African Music Performance Award, edging fellow African stars Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Olamide and Ayra Starr. The accolade also marks her first-ever Grammy Award.