Burna Boy Extends Record as Most Certified African Artist in NZ

Nigerian global music star Burna Boy has extended his record as the most certified African artist in New Zealand after another one of his songs earned official recognition in the country.

The latest milestone comes after “WGFT,” his collaboration with American rapper Gunna, received a gold certification in New Zealand. The recognition brings Burna Boy’s total number of certified records in the country to 16 plaques, further cementing his dominance among African artists in the market.

New Zealand has become a consistent market of success for the Grammy-winning singer. Several of his songs and collaborations have achieved strong commercial performance, earning multiple certifications over the years.

Among his most successful records in the country are “Last Last,” “Location” with Dave, “Own It” with Stormzy, “Be Honest” with Jorja Smith, “YE,” and “It’s Plenty.” These songs have collectively secured high-level certifications, including multiple platinum recognitions.

In addition to these platinum records, Burna Boy has also accumulated 10 gold certifications in New Zealand. Songs such as “Sittin’ On Top Of The World,” “City Boys,” “Real Life” featuring Stormzy, and “Alone” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack have all contributed to his growing list of accolades in the country.

The achievement highlights Burna Boy’s role as one of the leading artists driving the global reach of Afrobeats. The Port Harcourt-born musician has built a reputation for major international success through chart performance, global streaming numbers, and large-scale concerts.

In recent years, he has achieved several landmark touring milestones. In 2023, Burna Boy became the first African artist to headline and sell out a stadium in the United Kingdom, filling London Stadium with over 80,000 fans—an achievement he repeated in 2024.

That same year, he also became the first African artist to headline a stadium in the United States after selling out Citi Field Stadium in New York.

His international touring success continued in 2024 when he became the first non-Francophone African artist to headline and sell out the 80,000-capacity Stade de France in Paris.

Burna Boy also holds records for some of the highest-grossing concerts by an African artist in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, reflecting the scale of his global appeal.

The year 2026 has already begun with major industry recognition. At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Burna Boy secured his fifth consecutive nomination for Best Global Music Album with his 2025 project No Sign of Weakness.

Although he has yet to release new solo music this year, he has remained active through collaborations, including appearances on J. Cole’s album The Fall Off and British rapper Fredo’s track “Birthday.”

With another global tour expected and continued international recognition, 2026 is shaping up to be another significant year for the Afrobeats star.

Source: Pulse Nigeria