Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy has reached another historic milestone, as his I Told Them tour officially becomes the highest grossing tour ever recorded by an African artist. The achievement further solidifies his position as one of the most successful global music exports from the continent.
According to figures released by a tour monitoring platform, the I Told Them tour generated a total of 30.5 million dollars from 302,801 tickets sold across 22 shows held in Europe and North America. The numbers place the tour at the top of African and Afrobeats touring history in both revenue and attendance.
In a statement confirming the milestone, the platform noted that the tour is now the highest grossing by any Afrobeats artist to date, highlighting the growing global demand for African music and live performances.
Beyond the overall tour success, Burna Boy also set a new record for a single live show. On June 29, 2024, he made history at the London Stadium, where his concert grossed 6.147 million dollars from 58,973 tickets sold. This performance is now officially the highest grossing concert by an African artist in history and one of the most successful stadium shows by a non Western act in the UK.
The London Stadium concert was a major highlight of the I Told Them tour, drawing fans from across the United Kingdom and Europe. The show featured a high energy production, a career spanning setlist, and guest appearances, further cementing Burna Boy’s reputation as a world class live performer.
A closer look at the tour’s financial breakdown shows strong results across both continents. In North America, the tour earned approximately 15.19 million dollars from 152,378 tickets sold across 16 shows. In Europe, it generated about 15.27 million dollars from 150,423 tickets sold across six shows. The near equal revenue split reflects Burna Boy’s broad international fan base and consistent ticket demand across major markets.
The success of the tour also demonstrates the increasing commercial viability of African artists headlining large venues outside the continent. Burna Boy’s ability to sell out arenas and stadiums in major cities underscores the expanding reach of Afrobeats and African pop music globally.
While Burna Boy’s touring achievement marks a significant moment for African music, the record for the highest grossing music tour of all time remains held by American singer Taylor Swift. Her Eras tour has reportedly generated around 2 billion dollars from 149 shows staged over a 21 month period, doubling the previous all time record set by Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
Industry analysts say Burna Boy’s success is not just a personal achievement but a cultural milestone. It signals a shift in the global music industry, where African artists are increasingly commanding international stages, premium ticket pricing, and large scale touring infrastructure.
With the I Told Them tour, Burna Boy has once again broken barriers and redefined what is possible for African musicians on the world stage. The record breaking run adds to his growing list of accomplishments and reinforces the global influence of Afrobeats as a dominant force in contemporary music.
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