Despite Burna Boy’s international acclaim and Grammy win, Siri’s declaration of Wizkid as the best music artist in Nigeria raises questions about the recognition of Afrobeat’s ‘African giant’ and his place among the industry’s elite.
Amidst the fervent discourse surrounding Wizkid and Davido and Siri declaring the “King Kong” as the best music artist in Nigeria, Burna Boy appears to have been marginalized by the virtual assistant and the internet as a whole, as there seems to be no discussion about him.
Does this imply that Siri is unable to recognize The “African giant” as a deserving rival to Wizkid for the title of greatest musician in Nigeria? He is, after all, one of the “Big 3” of Afrobeat.
Exploring Burna Boy’s illustrious career unveils a rich tapestry of achievements that rival those of his counterparts. The Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper, has been making waves in the music industry with his unique blend of Afrobeats, hip-hop, reggae, and R&B. With a career spanning over a decade, Burna Boy has achieved numerous milestones that have cemented his position as a leading figure in Afrobeats and a trailblazer in the global music landscape.
According to Wikipedia, Burna Boy has a total of 130 nominations and has won 61 awards. The most notable achievement is his Grammy win for Best Global Music Album for his album “Twice as Tall” in 2020. This marked his first Grammy win and made him the first Nigerian artist to win the award. Additionally, he has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best African Music Performance and Best Global Music Performance.
Burna Boy’s music has gained international recognition, with collaborations with prominent artists such as Beyoncé, Sam Smith, and Diddy. His song “Ja Ara E” was featured on Beyoncé’s album “The Lion King: The Gift,” and he has also worked with artists like Angelique Kidjo and Timbaland.
Out of the Afrobeats “Big 3”, his songs appear the most in the UK charts. Once in the UK No. 1s, 4 times in the UK Top 10s, 13 times in the UK Top 40s, 20 times i n the UK Top 75s, 3 times in Weeks in the Top 1, 23 times in Weeks in the Top 10, 131 times in Weeks in Top 40, and 224 times Weeks in the Top 7. Surpassing both Wizkid and Davido in UK chart appearances. He is also the only one who has a whole day dedicated to him in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. (March 2- Burna Boy Day).
However, Wizkid, with his infectious melodies and charismatic presence, has left an indelible mark on the music industry. His collaboration with Beyoncé on “Brown Skin Girl” earned him a Grammy nomination, highlighting his ability to transcend borders and genres. Wizkid’s achievements, from performing at the Royal Albert Hall to bagging awards from prestigious institutions, underscore his influence and reach in the global music landscape.
It is crucial to realize that while Burnaboy has amassed enormous international acclaim quickly, Wizkid has developed an impressive international profile over time. This is true even though supporters of the African Giants and King Kong will contend that Burna Boy is more talented than Wizkid and vice versa.
Given that Siri is an artificial intelligence and cannot make decisions based on human judgment, but on facts according to research, its confirmation of Wizkid being the best music artist in Nigeria is not accidental. However, assuming Wizkid is the first of Afrobeats Big 3 and Burna Boy is in the other two spots, where does that leave the African giant?
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