African Giant is the fourth studio album by Nigerian artist Burna Boy, released in July 2019. More than just a collection of songs, it is widely considered a watershed moment and the definitive project that successfully repositioned Afrobeats from a regional phenomenon to a global commercial and critical force.
The album’s title and purpose were famously inspired by a moment of perceived disrespect. After Burna Boy’s name was printed in small font on the 2019 Coachella poster, he took to social media to assert his identity: “I am an AFRICAN GIANT and will not be reduced to whatever that tiny writing means.”
Tracks like the opener, “African Giant,” and the closer, “Spiritual,” assert the importance of knowing and celebrating one’s African identity on the global stage. Songs like “Anybody”, “Gbona”, and “On the Low” keep the groove alive, while deeper cuts like “Dangote” and “Collateral Damage” tackle social and political realities.
With “African Giant,” Burna Boy didn’t just create hits but a history. The project earned him his first Grammy nomination and introduced his sound to a worldwide audience.
