Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has once again raised the bar, cementing his status as the undisputed African Giant. His electrifying “I Told Them”World Tour has officially become the highest-grossing tour by an African artist in history, amassing an astonishing $30.5 million USD from 302,801 tickets sold across 22 shows, according to Touring Data.
This landmark achievement doesn’t just surpass Burna Boy’s previous records — it also eclipses the estimated $25 million generated by Wizkid’s celebrated Made in Lagos tour. From packed arenas in North America to roaring stadiums across Europe, I Told Them has stood as a powerful showcase of African music on a truly global scale.
Launched in support of his 2023 album of the same name, the tour arrived with high expectations and exceeded them effortlessly. Burna delivered a gripping blend of Afrobeat, reggae influences, and hip-hop flair, thrilling fans with chart-dominating anthems like “City Boys” and “Big 7.” Each performance was fueled by a raw, magnetic energy that has become his signature.
Beyond the music, the tour represents a defining moment for African artistry worldwide. The numbers tell a deeper story — one of cultural influence, global demand, and a continent asserting its place at the top tier of the music industry.
The Journey to a Historic Run
Born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Burna Boy’s ascent has been years in the making. From winning a Grammy Award in 2021 for Twice as Tall to becoming the first African artist to sell out Madison Square Garden in 2022, his career has been marked by consistent breakthroughs. Still, I Told Them feels like the culmination of over a decade of relentless grind.
Midway through the tour, early figures placed earnings at around $15 million, but massive stadium dates in cities like London and Paris sent totals soaring. By December 2025, the tour had decisively pulled ahead of all competitors. A standout moment came on June 29, 2024, when Burna grossed $6.15 million USD in a single night at London Stadium, performing to nearly 59,000 fans — the highest-grossing concert ever by an African artist.
What truly set this tour apart was strategy. Burna Boy and his team focused on premium global markets, commanding ticket prices that matched his superstar status. With an average gross of $1.386 million per show, the tour rivaled — and in some cases outperformed — those of major international acts.
High-profile guest appearances from artists like Dave, Stormzy, J Hus, Popcaan, andSnoh Aalegra further amplified excitement, attracting a diverse audience that spanned diaspora communities and first-time Afrobeats listeners alike.
Breaking His Own Records
At 34, Burna Boy continues to outdo himself. The I Told Them… World Tour (2023–2024) shattered multiple records, including:
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Becoming the highest-grossing Afrobeats tour of all time, with $30.46 million USD earned from 302,801 tickets.
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Setting the record for the highest-grossing single-night concert by an African artist, generating $6.15 million USD at London Stadium.
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Surpassing his own U.S. arena record with $1.725 million USD at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena.
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Recording the highest average ticket price for an African artist at $172.76 USD during his Hard Rock Live show in Hollywood.
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Selling out major venues multiple times in Canada, including the Bell Centre in Montreal and Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, grossing $5.7 million USD from six shows.
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Becoming the first African artist to sell out stadiums in the UK (London Stadium), the US (Citi Field), and France (Stade de France).
A Blueprint for the Future
As streaming revenues remain uneven for many artists, live performances continue to be the financial backbone of the music industry. Burna Boy’s success — driven by authenticity, smart market positioning, and global appeal — is now serving as a blueprint for the next generation of African stars.
More than just a tour, I Told Them is a statement. It has reshaped conversations around the earning power of African artists and opened doors for acts like Rema, Tems, Ayra Starr, Omah Lay, and others rising on the global stage.
In a year dominated by blockbuster tours from the likes of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, Burna Boy’s historic run stands as a quiet but powerful revolution. As Afrobeats continues its worldwide expansion, his achievement highlights not only the genre’s cultural impact but also its growing economic strength — a shift that could inspire deeper investment in African talent and infrastructure for years to come.
