Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy has etched his name into the history books, becoming the first African artist ever to reach the summit of the Billboard Global 200 Songs chart, a milestone six years in the making since the chart’s 2020 launch.
The Grammy-winning singer, born Damini Ogulu, achieved the feat with “Dai Dai (FIFA World Cup Official Song 2026),” his collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira.
The song bounded two spots to claim its first week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, edging past the likes of Ariana Grande, Michael Jackson, and Olivia Rodrigo to take the crown. It also holds for a third week atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, cementing its dominance both at home and abroad.
The record-breaking run carries extra symbolism given the song’s origins. “Dai Dai” is the first official World Cup anthem to lead either Billboard global list since the charts began in 2020, a distinction that had eluded even Jung Kook’s 2022 World Cup anthem “Dreamers,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart.
For Shakira, it marks a familiar feeling: the win is her second Global 200 No. 1, following “TQG” with Karol G, which topped the chart in its debut week back in March 2023. But for Burna Boy, it is his first time reigning atop the chart and the first time any African act has done so at all.
Shakira and Burna Boy performed “Dai Dai” for a reported 80,000-plus fans at the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony on June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, and the song’s momentum has only built since, buoyed by continued airplay as the tournament runs through July 19, when Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Madonna are set to headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The single’s crossover strength extends stateside as well, with a new peak of No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week up 12 places.
Burna Boy isn’t the only Nigerian star making chart history this week. Fellow Afrobeats singer Tems has seen her single “What You Need” climb five places to a new peak of No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a steady 15-week run on the chart.
The song’s ascent has been powered by dominance on the airwaves, reaching No. 1 on both the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and the Mediabase Urban Radio Airplay chart, making Tems the first solo African artist to hit that particular double milestone.
Together, the twin triumphs for Burna Boy and Tems underscore Afrobeats’ deepening foothold in the global mainstream no longer a rising trend, but now a fixture at the very top of the world’s most closely watched music charts.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Burna Boy has made history as the first African artist to top the Billboard Global 200, thanks to “Dai Dai,” his World Cup anthem with Shakira, which also leads the Global Excl. U.S. chart and hit a new U.S. Hot 100 peak of No. 55.
Adding to the moment, fellow Nigerian star Tems reached a new Hot 100 peak of No. 39 with “What You Need,” becoming the first solo African artist to top both major R&B/hip-hop and urban radio airplay charts. Together, these milestones mark a landmark week for Afrobeats on the global stage.
