Burna Boy sets new African record on Billboard Hot 100
With Dai Dai entering the Billboard Hot 100, Burna Boy extends his lead as one of Africa's most successful global music exports.
Burna Boy has added another historic achievement to his already impressive career, becoming the African artist with the highest number of entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Nigerian superstar reached the milestone after earning his ninth appearance on the prestigious United States singles chart with Dai Dai, his collaboration with Colombian singer Shakira. The achievement sees him move ahead of fellow Nigerian star Tems, who previously shared the record with him at eight entries each.
For Burna Boy, the latest feat is another sign of his growing influence beyond Africa. For Nigerian music, it is further evidence of how Afrobeats continues to gain ground in one of the world’s most competitive music markets.
The Billboard Hot 100 is widely regarded as the benchmark for song success in the United States. Compiled by Billboard magazine, the chart measures a song’s popularity using streaming figures, radio airplay and sales data. Given the size of the American music industry, securing a place on the chart is considered one of the most significant achievements for any recording artist.
Burna Boy secured his record-breaking ninth entry through Dai Dai, the official song of the FIFA World Cup. The track debuted at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gained additional attention following a performance by Burna Boy and Shakira at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico.
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The milestone places Burna Boy alone at the top of the list of African artists with the most Billboard Hot 100 entries, ahead of Tems, who now occupies second place.
Beyond the record itself, the achievement highlights Burna Boy’s remarkable consistency on the international stage. He is now the first African artist to chart at least one song on the Billboard Hot 100 in six consecutive years, a run that reflects both his global appeal and the continued rise of Afrobeats.
His Billboard Hot 100 appearances include Loved By You in 2021, Last Last in 2022, Sitting On Top of the World and Talibans II in 2023, Just Like Me and We Pray in 2024, WGFT in 2025, and Only You and Dai Dai in 2026.
The achievement comes at a time when Nigerian artistes are enjoying unprecedented international visibility. Streaming platforms have helped African music reach audiences far beyond the continent, while collaborations with global stars have opened new doors for the genre.
Burna Boy has been one of the leading figures in that expansion. From Grammy wins and sold-out stadium shows to chart success across multiple countries, the singer has played a major role in introducing Afrobeats to new audiences around the world.
The latest Billboard record adds another milestone to that journey. It also reinforces the growing reputation of Nigerian music as one of the country’s most successful cultural exports.
The achievement comes just weeks after Burna Boy surpassed 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a career high for the singer, and as he prepares for another awards season with multiple nominations ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards.
