Entertainment
Afrobeats Is Redefining Global Music
From Lagos to London, and from New York to Tokyo, Afrobeats has moved from being a local sound to one of Nigeria’s most successful cultural exports. What was once driven mainly by local radio, street parties, and African concerts is now commanding global playlists, award stages, and stadium tours.
The numbers prove it. In 2024, Nigerian artists received more than ₦58 billion in royalties from Spotify, more than double the figure from the previous year. Streaming exports of Nigerian music also grew by 49% in three years, confirming that the sound is no longer confined to Africa.

Photo: @heisrema-Instagram
Artists at the forefront of this movement have matched the hype with measurable results. Wizkid became the first African artist to cross 20 billion global streams in 2025. Rema’s “Calm Down” remix with Selena Gomez was the first African-led track to hit one billion Spotify streams. Davido’s album 5ive recorded 15 million global streams in its first day, while both Asake and Burna Boy have also seen their albums debut with multi-million streams worldwide.

Photo: @burnaboygram-Instagram
The awards stage tells the same story. Burna Boy won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album in 2021, while Tems broke new ground in 2025 by winning Best African Music Performance with “Love Me JeJe”. She became the first Nigerian performer with two Grammy wins, a milestone that underlines the reach of Nigerian talent.

Photo: @omega-Instagram
Beyond music, Afrobeats has shaped cultural trends in fashion, language, and lifestyle. Nigerian slang has entered global conversations, African prints appear on international runways, and Afrobeats-inspired dance routines dominate TikTok and Instagram. What was once niche has become part of the global mainstream.
The growth of Afrobeats is not accidental. Nigerian artists built their careers at home, perfected their sound, and used streaming platforms to reach the world. Today, they headline festivals, sell out arenas across Europe and America, and collaborate with some of the biggest international names in music.

Photo:@asakefp-Instagram
For Nigerians, the rise of Afrobeats is a source of pride. The same songs played in Lagos traffic are being cheered by thousands in arenas abroad. More importantly, the industry is generating revenue and opportunities for young creatives, proving that music is not just entertainment. It is a thriving export.
Afrobeats is no longer chasing global recognition. It has achieved it. And with every milestone, Nigerian artists are not just sharing their sound. They are carrying the country’s cultural identity to the world stage.
Entertainment
Burna Boy Set to Headline Halftime Show at 2026 NFL Paris Game
Nigerian singer Burna Boy has been announced as the headline performer for the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Paris Game.
The Grammy Award-winning singer will perform at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday, October 25, when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints. The game will be the NFL’s first regular-season game in France and is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CEST, or 9:30 a.m. ET.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram
The performance will see Burna Boy return to Stade de France, where he made history in April 2025 as the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium.
Speaking about his return to the venue, Burna Boy said the opportunity carries special meaning because of his previous experience there.
“Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything,” he said.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram
Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, said the league wanted an artist who could match the significance of its first regular-season game in France. He also pointed to Burna Boy’s previous performances at the stadium and the long-standing connection between Paris and African music.
Burna Boy joins the lineup of halftime performers for the NFL’s 2026 International Games. Other performers include the Jonas Brothers at the Melbourne Game, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin at the Rio Game, Ayra Starr at the London Game, Cage The Elephant at the Munich Game and The Warning at the Mexico City Game.
In France, the Paris Game will be broadcast live on France Télévisions and beIN Sports. L’Équipe is scheduled to air the game later that evening. The NFL said more details about entertainment and fan events around the game will be announced ahead of the fixture.
Entertainment
Burna Boy Becomes First Nigerian Artist to Surpass 4 Billion YouTube Views
Burna Boy has crossed another major digital milestone, becoming the first Nigerian artist to surpass four billion total views on YouTube.
The milestone was reported on September 3, 2026, after the combined views on the singer’s official YouTube channel surpassed four billion. The figure covers music videos and other content uploaded to the channel.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram
At the time of the reports, Burna Boy’s official channel had recorded more than 4.02 billion views and had over 7.21 million subscribers.
Some of the singer’s most watched videos include “On The Low,” “Ye,” “Last Last” and “For My Hand,” his collaboration with British singer Ed Sheeran.
The latest figure also extends a record Burna Boy first set in 2021, when he became the first Nigerian artist to cross one billion total YouTube views. Five years later, he has reached four times that figure.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram
The increase highlights Burna Boy’s rise from Nigeria’s music scene to one of Africa’s most internationally recognised artists. His songs have found audiences across Africa, Europe and North America, while his music videos have continued to attract viewers long after their release.
Born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Burna Boy has connected Nigerian sounds with audiences outside the country. His album African Giant, released in 2019, earned a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album, while Twice as Tall won the same award at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021.
As of the reports announcing the milestone, Burna Boy has not publicly commented on the achievement. The figure was recorded through tracking of his official YouTube channel.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele Releases First Images of ‘The Four’
Funke Akindele has released the first images from her upcoming film, “The Four: No One Fights Alone”, giving audiences a closer look at the cast ahead of its December cinema release.
The actress and filmmaker shared the images on September 1, featuring herself alongside several members of the film’s ensemble cast.
The released images feature Akindele alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Timini Egbuson, Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu and Uzor Arukwe. Ronke Oshodi Oke and Wunmi Toriola are also among the cast.
Akindele accompanied the images with a caption describing the film as a story filled with “friendship, laughter, tension, secrets and everything in between.” She also confirmed that The Four will arrive in cinemas on December 11.

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele
The first-look release comes shortly after Akindele announced the film and unveiled its cast in August. “The Four” is a drama set between the Odu community and the city, following Esosa and three women who are closely connected to her as they fight for the future of a young man they love. Their journey puts their friendship, courage, faith and loyalty to the test.
Music is also part of the film’s build-up, with Akindele, Waje, Bisola Aiyeola and Chioma Chukwuka joining forces on “Ore Mi”, one of the soundtracks for The Four. Produced by Tyanx, the song draws on the film’s themes of friendship, love and the bond between close friends. Akindele said the recording was inspired by the folktale-style storytelling through music that many Nigerians grew up with, making the song an extension of the relationships at the centre of the film.
“The Four: No One Fights Alone” is produced by Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV) and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. The film is scheduled to open in cinemas globally on December 11, 2026.
More pictures below:

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele
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