Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy has achieved what no other artist from the country has accomplished - earning five career Grammy nominations in album categories. This historic feat solidifies his position as Africa's most consistent global music ambassador.
Burna Boy's Historic Grammy Achievement
The self-proclaimed 'African Giant' recently added his 2025 project 'No Sign of Weakness' to his growing list of Grammy-nominated works, bringing his total to five album nominations. This remarkable achievement makes him the first Nigerian artist to reach this milestone, cementing his dominance on the international music stage.
His latest nomination comes in the Best Global Music Album category at the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards, where he will compete against established global acts including Youssou N'Dour, Anoushka Shankar, and Shakti.
Burna Boy's Grammy-nominated album collection now spans six years and includes: African Giant (2019), Twice As Tall (2020), Love, Damini (2022), I Told Them... (2023), and No Sign of Weakness (2025).
Ranking Burna Boy's Grammy-Nominated Masterpieces
1. African Giant (2019) - The Cultural Manifesto
Widely considered Burna Boy's magnum opus, African Giant represents more than just music - it's a cultural statement that transformed him into a global phenomenon. This 2019 project earned his first Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album and fundamentally changed how the world perceived African music.
The album's impact was immediate and profound, setting new standards for quality in the Afrobeats genre and forcing his contemporaries to elevate their artistic ambitions. Tracks like 'Ye', 'Anybody', 'Gbona', and 'On The Low' demonstrated Burna's complete mastery of his craft, blending traditional African rhythms with hip-hop, R&B, and reggae influences.
Many in the music community still believe African Giant was unfairly denied the Grammy award it deserved, given its groundbreaking role in reshaping global perceptions of African music.
2. Twice As Tall (2020) - The Grammy Winner
Following the explosive success of African Giant, Twice As Tall delivered what its predecessor couldn't - the actual Grammy award. Released in 2020, this album won the Best Global Music Album category, breaking new ground for West African artists.
The project benefited from strategic co-production by American hip-hop mogul Diddy and Burna's mother, Bose Ogulu, creating a sound that appealed to global audiences while maintaining its African authenticity. Standout tracks included the Stormzy collaboration 'Real Life', the confident 'Way Too Big', the romantic 'Onyeka (Baby)', and the reflective '23'.
Where African Giant made the declaration, Twice As Tall provided the historic execution that secured music's highest honor.
3. Love, Damini (2022) - Commercial Peak
Occupying the third position is Love, Damini, Burna Boy's most commercially successful project to date. This 2022 album earned another Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Album and was propelled by the massive global hit 'Last Last'.
The album represented Burna at his most personal, exploring his identity as Damini Ogulu while achieving unprecedented commercial success. Love, Damini became the highest-charting Nigerian album ever on the Billboard 200, debuting at number 14, and reached number two in the United Kingdom.
The project's lead single 'Last Last' peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, while other tracks like 'Common Person' and collaborations with Ed Sheeran ('For My Hand') and Victony ('Different Size') drove its massive popularity. The album earned 5x Platinum certification in Nigeria and RIAA Gold status in the United States.
4. I Told Them... (2023) - Hip-Hop Tribute
Released in 2023, I Told Them... earned an impressive four nominations at the 2024 Grammys, including Best Global Album. This project saw Burna paying homage to the golden era of hip-hop, drawing parallels between 90s rap legends and his own journey.
The album generated nominations across multiple categories: 'City Boy' for Best African Music Performance, 'Alone' for Best Global Music Performance, and 'Sittin' On Top Of The World' featuring 21 Savage for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
While demonstrating Burna's versatility and deep appreciation for hip-hop, some critics felt the heavy focus on American rap nostalgia occasionally overshadowed his distinctive Afro-fusion sound.
5. No Sign of Weakness (2025) - Recent Contender
Burna Boy's most recent nominated work, No Sign of Weakness, finds itself at the bottom of our ranking - not because it's weak, but because Burna has set impossibly high standards for himself.
The album features strong tracks like the Best African Music Performance nominee 'Love', along with 'Bundle' and 'Update', all showcasing Burna's signature high production quality and Afro-fusion framework.
However, compared to his previous groundbreaking works, No Sign of Weakness plays it relatively safe, lacking the cultural revolutions and cohesive vision that characterized his earlier masterpieces. In a year considered mediocre for Nigerian album releases, it stands as a quality but not exceptional entry in Burna's remarkable catalog.
A Triumph for African Music
Burna Boy's five Grammy album nominations represent more than personal achievement - they signify a monumental victory for Nigerian and African music on the global stage. His consistent recognition across a six-year period demonstrates that African artists can maintain sustained excellence and compete with the world's best.
From the cultural declaration of African Giant to the Grammy-winning execution of Twice As Tall, the commercial peak of Love, Damini, the hip-hop tribute of I Told Them..., and the recent No Sign of Weakness, Burna Boy has proven himself a dominant force in contemporary music.
This historic run of nominations confirms that Burna Boy isn't just passing through the international music conversation - he has become a permanent fixture, carrying the flag for an entire continent with every beat and every bar.
