Burna Boy aka African Giant delivered a wholesome performance as the opening act of the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul.
The Grammy award-winning singer showed why he was nicknamed African Giant with his performance.
Burna Boy together with Brazilian singer and songwriter Anitta were both the opening act for the night on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
The Nigerian singer performed two of his best songs, ‘Last Last’ and ‘Its Plenty’ before the match which Manchester City eventually won.
This feat saw Burna Boy become the first and only Nigerian artist to perform at the opening event of the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City won with just a goal, thanks to the second-half strike from Rodri which helped the Citizyns secure their biggest-ever triumph.
It was a thing of joy for many Nigerians to see Afrobeats music star Burna Boy perform at the UCL final, but the singer broker many hearts he revealed he did not want Manchester City to win the trophy.
Burna Boy said: “This was the most amazing thing, even though I honestly didn’t want City to win for sentimental reasons, it’s okay. It is amazing performing at the UCL final.”
The Grammy winner made this statement while on the CBS Golazo after-match show with Thierry Henry, Jaime Carragher, Micha Richards, and Peter Schumicheal.
Burna Boy Gifts His Idol Thierry Henry His Million-Dollar Chain
Burna Boy also praised Jaime Carragher and revealed that he used to be a fan and watched him a lot during his days as a Liverpool player.
While on the post-match show, the African Giant gave Henry his million-dollar diamond chain before thrilling the former football stars to a medley of his songs.
The Frenchman who was astonished by the gesture, pronounced himself “Igwe!” (a Nigerian -Igbo title for king).
The Nigerian singer revealed that the name on the neckpiece was his late best friend, Gambo, adding that making Henry wear the neckpiece was the greatest tribute he could have given to his late best friend.
“You see the person on [the necklace]? It’s my best friend. I lost my best friend,” Burna Boy said.
“Knowing that you are wearing his name right now, is the most special thing in the world that I could have ever done.“
“His name is Gabriel, so I called him Gambo. This is the biggest gift…”
Who is Burna Boy?
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu MFR known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer who was born on 2 July, 1991.
The Grammy Award winner rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013).
The Nigerian singer signed with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group internationally in 2017.
His third studio album Outside (2018) marked his major-label debut.
Burna Boy released his fifth studio album, Twice as Tall, in August 2020 which won Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
