Glastonbury Goes Afrobeats: Burna Boy Set to Perform at Iconic Festival
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On Sunday evening, Afrobeats megastar Burna Boy will take the stage at Glastonbury’s iconic Pyramid Stage for the first time. While he has previously performed at the festival, this marks his debut on its main stage, a focal point for decades.
Fellow Afrobeats stars Ayra Starr and Tems also performed at Glastonbury, with Starr on the Pyramid Stage and Tems on the Other Stage.
Afrobeats, originating from Nigeria and Ghana, has rapidly risen to dominate global playlists and radio, growing by 1,200% on Spotify since 2017.
This genre’s ascent to performances at the UK’s biggest festival signifies a new milestone. Ayra Starr remarked, “It’s our time,” highlighting the genre’s long-awaited recognition.
Afrobeats differs from “Afrobeat,” a genre created by Fela Kuti in the 1960s and 1970s, which combines African rhythms with funk, jazz, and highlife.
Interestingly, Kuti himself played at Glastonbury in 1984, and his son Femi Kuti performed on the Pyramid Stage this year. Afrobeats, however, fuses traditional West African styles with Western pop, rap, and dancehall, appealing to a younger audience and spreading through social media and global travel.
Despite early challenges, such as a lack of industry knowledge among emerging artists, Afrobeats has gained structure and prominence. DJs in the UK began blending pop music with Nigerian and Ghanaian beats, introducing the sound to wider audiences. D’banj’s “Oliver Twist” in 2012 marked a significant breakthrough, reaching the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart and heralding Afrobeats’ global spread.
Afrobeats has since become one of Africa’s biggest cultural exports, with platforms like TikTok and YouTube propelling its popularity. Viral hits like CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” and collaborations with artists like Beyoncé, Drake, and Justin Bieber have further elevated the genre.
Burna Boy made history in 2023 as the first African artist to headline a UK stadium show, drawing a crowd of 60,000 at the London Stadium.
The genre’s meteoric rise has been acknowledged by major awards, with categories for Afrobeats now included in the Billboard, MTV VMAs, Grammys, and American Music Awards.
Burna Boy and Rema, who won accolades for their achievements, highlighted the genre’s global domination and unity. DJ Edu emphasized the significance of this recognition, noting it signals a promising future for Afrobeats artists.