Burna Boy is the Grammy Award-winning Nigerian superstar who, in his almost ten years and six full-lengths since his album debut, has seen both himself and his genre grow to a peak in today's pop.
The milestones are starting to
add up.
The previous album "Twice As Tall" went right into the first place of the American Billboard list.
Collaborations with Beyonce, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran have broadened the audience.
A sold out Wembley in London and (as the first African artist ever) Madison Square Garden is not bad.
In Scandinavia, he did his first concert at Partille Arena in 2019. Since then, it seems that the Nordics can't get enough of Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, as he is also called.
In just one year
, Burna Boy has grown regionally from a concert at Hovet in Stockholm to becoming one of the highlights of the summer Way Out West festival in Gothenburg.
And now this weekend, the Globe was waiting.
Despite the frequent visits, there was the same kind of feeling of anticipation and togetherness as in the neighboring arena last year.
Something perhaps influenced by the multi-level, familial energy that provides atmosphere for an evening like this?
The concert is not held under the auspices of the big concert companies such as Live Nation and FKP Scorpio, but by the two enthusiastic DJs;
DJ LV and British event maker Cockobar, the duo who also arranged his other gigs here.
Half-hidden at the edge of the stage
is Burna Boy's mother, Bose "Mama Burna" Ogulu, who is also a manager.
She who grew up with a father who in turn was the manager of legendary Nigerian pioneering superstar Fela Kuti.
He who created Afrobeat.
And who is Burna Boy's biggest hero.
Burna Boy has not only borrowed traces of his role model on countless occasions.
He also travels the world with a really big band (just like Fela).
In the crowd on the Globenscenen, there is choir, brass, percussion, among other things.
Not infrequently performed by a cousin or other relative.
To hear him
like this, richly and dynamically presented, does something great with Burna Boy.
The Afrofusion I sometimes experience a little carefully wrapped up on the album recordings turns into something else.
With room for both nuances, parties and spontaneous fiddler's joy.
That the harmony that appeared on the latest album "Love Damini" also reached the stage is shown by a much smoother and more well-disposed evening than what we experienced before.
In a Globe that dances.
Even before he goes on stage.
And even after the concert is over.
During an evening that can also feel a bit refreshingly historical.
Not so long ago, African tones were presented bundled together under the epithet of world music, often included in some state-supported cultural festival.
Today they fill a national arena.
Completely on its own merits.
What happens now?
Ullevi next?