Burna Boy will headline the halftime show when the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints meet at Stade de France in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France. He brings a global profile to an already historic Week 7 matchup.
Born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu in Port Harcourt, the singer has become one of the most recognizable names in African music. His Afro-fusion sound has taken him from Nigeria to some of the world’s biggest stages.
The Paris appearance also carries a personal connection. He previously made history at Stade de France in 2025, becoming the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the venue. Now, he returns for a very different kind of spectacle.
How old is Burna Boy?
Burna Boy is 35 years old. Born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His global profile is one of the reasons the NFL selected him to headline the Paris Game halftime show.
Burna Boy attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” (Source: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
How tall is Burna Boy?
Burna Boy is generally listed at around 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall. His exact height has generated some debate over the years, with the singer himself once suggesting he was 6-foot-2.
What nationality is Burna Boy?
Burna Boy is Nigerian. He was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, and has consistently incorporated Nigerian culture and African musical traditions into his work.
His music blends Afrobeats with elements of dancehall, reggae, hip-hop and R&B, a combination he has described as Afro-fusion. His international success has made him one of the leading figures in the global expansion of African music.
Has Burna Boy won a Grammy?
Burna Boy has won one Grammy Award. He won Best Global Music Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021 for Twice As Tall, earning his first career Grammy after the album’s success on the international stage.
The victory was a major milestone for the Nigerian artist and African music more broadly. He has since accumulated 13 Grammy nominations, including recognition for Love, Damini, I Told Them…, “Last Last,” “City Boys” and other projects.
When did Burna Boy start singing?
Burna Boy began making music at around 10 years old and launched his professional career in the early 2010s. Universal Music Publishing Group says he started producing music as a child, while his professional career took shape after he returned to Nigeria and began working with producer LeriQ.
His breakthrough came in 2012 with “Like to Party,” the lead single from his debut studio album, L.I.F.E, which followed in 2013. That early success established the sound and identity that would eventually take him from Nigeria to major international stages.
His musical roots run particularly deep in his family. His grandfather, Benson Idonije, was associated with legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, an influence that helped shape Burna Boy’s connection to African music and Afrobeat.
Burna Boy’s history at sporting events
- 2023 NBA All-Star Game — Salt Lake City: Burna Boy headlined the halftime show alongside fellow Nigerian artists Tems and Rema at Vivint Arena. The performance had a special connection for him: Burna Boy told NBA.com that he had dreamed of playing basketball professionally and had been part of his high school basketball team.
- 2026 FIFA World Cup — Mexico City: Burna Boy took his connection with sports to soccer’s biggest stage. He joined Shakira for the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City Stadium, where they performed “Dai Dai,” the tournament’s official song, for the first time. The ceremony took place on June 11, ahead of the opening match of the tournament.
- “Dai Dai” and the FIFA World Cup: The collaboration with Shakira was more than a one-off performance. “Dai Dai” was released as the official FIFA World Cup 2026 song in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, bringing Burna Boy’s Afro-fusion sound together with Shakira’s global pop presence.
- 2026 NFL Paris Game — France: Burna Boy’s latest major sports appearance comes in the NFL. He is headlining the halftime show for the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints at Stade de France on October 25, marking the first regular-season NFL game played in France. The performance also returns him to a venue where he made history in 2025 as the first African artist to headline a solo concert there.
