Nigerian Afrobeats singer Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, headlined the halftime show at the National Football League’s (NFL) first regular-season game in France.
Burna Boy performed on Sunday at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints.
The performance also featured French singer Yseult, as the NFL combined American football with live musical entertainment in its bid to expand its international reach.
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 sold out, making him 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 reflected 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 provided another opportunity to showcase African music to a global audience.
Burna Boy’s appearance further highlighted the growing international visibility of Nigerian music and Afrobeats.
