Burna Boy deserved his figurative flowers — and his very literal bras — by tearing through a breathtaking two-hour show at Madison Square Garden in New York, becoming the first Nigerian headliner to do so. As he sang “Rock Your Body” off his breakout album, 2018’s Outside, the first fire-engine red bra was thrust onstage at the beloved Afro-fusionist early in his set. Six more had been thrown at him by the end of the night, and he had hung several around his waistline like a utility belt at one point. Burna hulked down his long runway, surrounded by piercing strobes, to “Gbona” from his landmark title, African Giant. “Burna is so great, yo!” exclaimed a male admirer.
The only time the audience was quiet was when they were listening carefully to a new song that sampled Toni Braxton’s “He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me.” Burna performed the unreleased music after confirming that his upcoming album, Love, Damini, will be released on July 2nd, his 31st birthday. Aside from that, the Garden throng was always moving, their rows of bodies like waves in a black ocean of mostly Black diasporans. Burna Boy and frequent use of an acappella or minimalist arrangement meant that the enthusiastic audience could frequently be heard plainly singing at the Madison Square Garden, their voices as sweet as Burna’s grin.
Whilst set-closer “Ye” provoked an unmistakable reaction from the entire Garden, a detailed examination of the seats revealed how diverse everyone’s favorite songs from Burna’s extensive discography may be.
The concert reinterpreted Burna’s extensive discography, raising already superb songs to new heights. African Giant’s “On the Low” was ripped apart by a brass section. The use of violins upped the stakes in “Location.” As they finished “Onyeka,” a saxophonist competed with Burna’s passionate vocal runs. A group of traditional African drummers surrounded his five-year-old backup vocalist, Christina Matovu, and moved in unison from left to right while they performed “Ja Ara E.” Burna Boy’s live arrangements added funk and emotion to the show.
At the MAdison Square Garden, the energy, excitement, and sense of being seen were apparent. After Burna exited beneath a flurry of sparks from the roof, the evening’s host, a young African man from the Bronx, stated, “We made history today.” “Africans started everything,” he remarked. “We gon’ finish everything.” “Congratulations to the culture.”