Coachella 2023: Burna Boy proves top-billing status with lively performance, full band

Burna Boy has come a long way in the four years since he last played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

In that time, the talented Nigerian singer and rapper has released three albums, one of which won a Grammy and another that was nominated for several awards.

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Burna Boy’s placement on this year’s festival poster — just below headliner Bad Bunny — is a clear sign of his meteoric rise. It’s also a reminder of a skirmish he got in with festival promoters back in 2019, when the artist was promoted in small font on the fourth line of Coachella’s 2019 lineup, a spot he took issue with on social media.

“Coachella, I appreciate you. But I don’t appreciate the way my name is written so small in your bill,” Burna Boy wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “I am an AFRICAN GIANT and will not be reduced to whatever that tiny writing means. Fix tings quick please.”

But if there’s any simmering tension with Goldenvoice, Burna Boy certainly didn’t show it on the Coachella Stage Friday night. Instead, donning a thick gold chain, the Nigerian superstar reminded everyone why he’s so much fun, bringing a full band and several firework displays for his set.

The artist, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, opened with “Science” from his latest album, “Love Damini,” before launching into several hits from his 2019 breakout record, “African Giant.”

The band — with a full group of brass players, plus African drums and keys — was a fantastic addition, offering Burna Boy a chance to riff with his band and backup singers in a way that felt more organic than many Coachella sets. From the saxaphone to the keyboard, the instruments helped enliven songs such as “Anybody” that reflect the Nigerian singer’s roots.

His recent rise to international fame was not lost on Burna Boy, whose lyrics mix Yoruba, Igbo (two Nigerian dialects) and English languages.

“Can I tell you guys a secret?” Burna Boy asked the crowd halfway through his set. “Last time we were here was like four years ago, and you guys were like a quarter of the size you are now, you feel me? So that is a big blessing to me.”

Burna Boy, who could barely stop grinning throughout the set, closed with two of his biggest hits: breakout single “Ye” from 2018 and new fan favorite “Last Last.” He got the audience to sing along to the final chorus, despite the language barrier for most in the crowd.

There’s little doubt Burna Boy proved his top-billing status this year. As the Nigerian artist left the stage, he had a simple message for the crowd — one that suggests any potential beef with the festival was squashed Friday night.

“Coachella, I love you,” he said to cheers.

Tom Coulter covers the mid-valley for The Desert Sun and can be reached at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2023: Burna Boy proves top-billing status with lively show