Nigerian Afrobeats star Damini Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, took centre stage during the halftime show at the National Football League’s (NFL) first regular-season game held in France.
The singer performed on Sunday at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, as the Pittsburgh Steelers faced the New Orleans Saints.
French singer Yseult also joined Burna Boy for the performance, as the NFL blended American football with live music entertainment to strengthen its presence in international markets.
Burna Boy’s appearance marked his return to the Stade de France, where he became the first African artiste to headline a solo concert in April 2025.
The concert attracted 80,000 fans and was sold out, making Burna Boy the first African artiste to headline and sell out the stadium.
In an interview with Colleen Wolfe, shared on the official NFL France and NFL Instagram accounts, Burna Boy reflected on the significance of performing at the venue.
The Grammy Award-winning singer said his music was a reflection of life, with its mixture of good and bad days, highs and lows, and moments of greatness and difficulty.
He said music was not limited by a person’s background or language, adding that he saw himself as a reporter who conveyed stories through melodies.
“That’s what music is. That’s why I’m not so creative; I’m just like a reporter with melodies and stuff. It doesn’t matter where you’re from.
”That’s why sometimes I don’t even speak English in my music. I sing to see beyond your physical form; it’s your spirit I sing to,” he said.
He added that the performance was another opportunity to showcase African music to a global audience.
Burna Boy’s performance further highlights the growing international visibility of Nigerian music and Afrobeats.
