Piece by: Maureen Waruinge

11 June 2023

• The Nigerian musician delivered an electrifying performance in Istanbul, Turkey.

Burna Boy has been hailed by his fans as putting Afrobeats on the map of football. The singer performed to an adoring crowd of fans a medley of ‘Last Last’ and ‘It’s Plenty’ at the kickoff show of the Champions League Finals in Turkey Saturday, June 10.

Burna Boy also fulfilled a dream to gift Arsenal legend Thierry Henry a Diamond chain.

The UEFA Champions League final football match was played at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.

Burna Boy took off his "Gambo" diamond necklace and put it around Henry's neck saying that the name "Gambo" inscribed on the necklace referred to his late closest friend, Gambo.

He said, “You see the person on this is my best friend. I lost my best friend and knowing that you are wearing this thing right now is the most special thing in the world that I could have ever done. His name is Gabriel Serenkuma aka Gambo.”

Fans truly have been waiting to see his performance especially after UEFA on their website on March 16 informed that Burna Boy would be their star for the night.

A statement from UEFA in March read

"GRAMMY® Award-winning and multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter and producer Burna Boy will co-headline the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday 10 June.

Known for his global chart-topping hits Last Last and It's Plenty, the Nigerian star will bring his energy and signature soulful vibes of afrobeat to millions of fans before the biggest club fixture in football gets underway."

It is widely reported that he earned 2 million dollars for the brief moment.

Burna Boy is truly winning. On Friday, June 9, the day before the UCL performance, he received four nominations in the 2023 edition of the Black Entertainment Television, BET, Awards.

A week before this, burna became the first African artiste to sell out the 80,000-capacity London Stadium in the UK.