From Atlanta to Lagos: Gunna’s Nigerian Afrobeats Journey

As the sun dipped below the smoggy skyline of Lagos, throngs of fans pushed toward the makeshift stage along the Eko Convention Center. They had come not for a local hero but for an Atlanta native whose drawl was forged in the trap studios of Georgia. Dreadlocks swaying, diamonds shimmering, Sergio “Gunna” Kitchens stepped onto Nigerian soil and felt the roar of thousands wash over him.

In that moment, he crossed a bridge that few American rappers have dared to cross: from the gritty cadence of U.S. trap to the polyrhythmic heartbeat of Afrobeats. His transformation isn’t a gimmick; it’s the culmination of years of curiosity, collaboration, and genuine affection for Nigeria’s cultural pulse.

Opening the door with The Last Wun

Gunna’s love affair with Afrobeats crystallized on his sixth studio album, The Last Wun. Released 8 August 2025 as his final project under YSL Records, the 25‑track set pulses with Turbo‑produced trap and shimmering Afrobeats grooves. Wikipedia’s meticulous track list confirms the placement of three Nigerian heavyweights: Burna Boy appears on the propulsive “WGFT,” Wizkid lends his silken vocals to the romantic “Forever Be Mine,” and Asake injects bouncy energy into “Satisfaction.”. Rap‑Up noted that the album’s international lineup, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Offset, Nechie, and Asake, signals Gunna’s intention to end his YSL tenure with a global statement

The genesis of these collaborations sprouted months before The Last Wun dropped. Deeds Magazine recounted how a monochrome teaser clip surfaced, captioned “FOREVER,” showing Gunna and Wizkid trading melodies in a studio session and nodding along to a “glistening production.” That brief video stoked rumors, and when the official track list was later revealed that Burna Boy and Asake were also involved, fans erupted. A Nigerian Twitter user exclaimed, “Gunna is so wise. He peeped that he’s currently the biggest foreign artist in NG and he’s trying to cement that…by featuring the top 3 biggest NG artists currently.”

A relationship years in the making

Gunna’s connection to Afrobeats predates his 2025 record. His dalliance began in 2018 when Davido invited him to deliver a melodic verse on “Big Picture,” a sunny highlight from the Nigerian superstar’s A Good Time album. From there, he kept returning to African rhythms: he joined Nigerian gospel singer Victor Thompson on the uplifting hit “This Year (Blessings)” during a Los Angeles concert in 2023 and later jumped on the official remix. Months later, he teamed with veteran producer Sarz and Asake for “Happiness,” a buoyant blend of Afrobeats and amapiano. The song shot to No. 1 on Nigeria’s YouTube trending chart, and Gunna’s Instagram post celebrating the track was cheeky and self‑aware: “Gunna Wun Amapiano??! [Out now] [AfroWunna]”

The “Happiness” collaboration offered a taste of Gunna’s respect for Nigerian creators. Sarz told Complex that working with Asake and Gunna allowed them “ to tastefully blend genres” and create “a celebration of unity, cultural diversity and the universal language of happiness”. Asake echoed that sentiment, noting that while “a lot of people pay so much for happiness…creating a song that could fit in both worlds was magical”. Their comments underline how these cross‑continental partnerships are not simply marketing ploys but genuine artistic exchanges.

Lagos as muse

By December 2024, Gunna wasn’t just collaborating from afar; he was physically in Nigeria. He headlined Coca‑Cola’s Rhythm Unplugged festival at Flytime Fest, his African performance debut. According to Variety’s report, the show placed him alongside African stars and bridged “global and African music audiences”. Behind the scenes, he soaked up local life: Deeds Magazine notes that he spent time with Burna Boy in Lagos, filmed visuals, and even headlined the prestigious Rhythm Unplugged concert

These moments bled into his art. The Lagos Review described how the video for his single “Got Damn” follows him through Las Vegas, Dubai, and Lagos, capturing candid scenes of dining with friends and interacting with fans before commanding a massive crowds montage that quietly centers Nigerian cityscapes alongside Western locales.

Being in Nigeria left a mark on his musical philosophy. In a January 2024 interview with Revolt, he told reporters he was eager to collaborate with “a lot of different artists” and hinted that he had another Afrobeats record on the way. Months later, talking with XXL, Gunna reflected on his artistic growth: “As I evolve, my music evolves, too. I’m not the same 24‑year‑old that was putting out Drip Season 3.” That evolution manifested on The Last Wun, where trap snares share space with talking drums.

Bridging two musical worlds

Gunna’s journey mirrors a broader trend in global pop. Rolling Stone Africa observed that genres like Afrobeats and amapiano have transformed from local styles into global pop staples, dominating charts and prompting the Grammys, MTV VMAs, and American Music Awards to add Africa‑specific categories. Western superstars such as Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and Justin Bieber regularly tap African artists to craft music that bridges cultures. Gunna’s decision to feature Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Asake, the holy trinity of contemporary Nigerian music, cements his place in this movement.

The tracks themselves testify to this fusion. “WGFT” pairs Burna Boy’s raspy delivery with Gunna’s melodic flow over a beat that switches between trap hi‑hats and Afro‑percussive bounce. On “Forever Be Mine,” Wizkid’s silky hook floats above shimmering synths as Gunna croons about devotion. “Satisfaction” finds Asake chanting Yoruba phrases over jazzy horns while Gunna trades verses effortlessly. The album’s press cycle emphasised his global ambitions; Rap‑Up noted that the project mixes introspection with celebratory anthems and includes a possible response to Young Thug while boasting an “impressive international lineup.”

More than a crossover, cultural respect

Critically, Gunna’s embrace of Afrobeats hasn’t been met with accusations of cultural appropriation but rather appreciation. Nigerian fans see his interest as genuine; Deeds Magazine described him as “something of an honorary Afrobeats act” thanks to his consistent collaborations. A user quoted in the same article marvelled that he is “the biggest foreign artist in NG” because he prioritises Nigerian features. That respect stems from how he immerses himself in the culture, spending time in Lagos, filming with Burna Boy, and praising the genre on social media.

From a business perspective, his move reflects the undeniable momentum of Afrobeats. Live Nation reported a 400% increase in Afrobeats concerts in the U.S. between 2023 and 2024 (a statistic widely cited in boardrooms), and Nigeria’s streaming numbers continue to climb. For Gunna, though, the allure appears less strategic than spiritual. “It’s still going, you know?” he told XXL as he navigated the YSL RICO saga and his evolving identity. The music world, Atlanta rap fans, and Lagos club‑goers alike are better for his willingness to bridge those worlds.

As Afrobeats’ irresistible rhythms continue to captivate audiences from Lagos to Los Angeles, Gunna stands as a bridge between continents. His journey reminds us that cultural exchange isn’t about abandoning roots but enriching them. And in a global era where collaborations define the zeitgeist, an Atlanta rapper finding kinship in Nigeria’s soundscape feels less like a surprise and more like an inevitable harmony.