Burna Boy: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Watch Burna Boy play "Gbona", "Wetin Man Go Do", "Dangote" and "Ye" at the Tiny Desk.

More from NPR Music:

Nov. 18, 2019 | Bobby Carter -- While preparing for Burna Boy's Tiny Desk appearance, it was evident early on that his performance would be strictly business. After exchanging pleasantries on the phone with his mother and manager, Bose Ogulu, she made it clear there wouldn't be time for much of anything else. "Burna has been working really hard so please bear with us," she told me. "The band will arrive well before him. Let me know the latest time at which he can arrive."

The Nigerian singer and songwriter is one of the biggest African artists in the world. He's also a pioneer of Afro-fusion which incorporates sonics and influences from a myriad of genres, laid on an Afrobeat foundation. The sound has been inescapable this year. The man born Damini Ogulu has been touring the world for the majority of 2019 and has at least 10 songs in the current nightclub rotation. Beyoncé took notice and offered him a place on The Lion King soundtrack, The Lion King: The Gift.

Sandwiched between two sold-out concerts in Washington D.C., his Tiny Desk performance offers something relatively different from what we're used to seeing at his rowdy stage shows. He's more reflective here and restrained, allowing his songwriting to shine. In the spirit of one of his heroes, Fela Kuti, he weaves through highlights from his breakout album, African Giant, that are liable to move your body as much as your social consciousness.

SET LIST
"Gbona"
"Wetin Man Go Do"
"Dangote"
"Ye"

MUSICIANS
Burna Boy: vocals; Emmanuel "Manny" Abiola-Jacobs: drums; Michael "Maestro" Masade Jr.: keys; Jola Ade: keys; Gaetan Judd: guitar; Christina Matovu: vocals; Otis "Bdoc" Mensah: bass

CREDITS
Producers: Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Bronson Arcuri, CJ Riculan, Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Mhari Shaw/NPR

[nprmusic]

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[bickenbackbeinbool]

We need a Burna boy tiny desk 2024. The hit list has a massive update.

[KemiKayy]

The backing singer has probably sang those songs hundreds of time and yet she's still jamming to it like its fresh new music 🥰🤩

[clubgreatness]

Burna's voice is one of a kind. That backup singer won't be back up for long. She'll have her own Tiny desk episode one day.

[producer-chan]

We sorely need another Burna Tiny Desk Concert in 2022. He's dropped so much fire since this one.

[mintprint]

The fact that this guy sounds exactly like his studio records/ recordings is amazing... no autotune

[alansjf]

He found one back up singer that is so good, that she can do the job of an entire back up section of singers.

[Trichmedia]

I don't see anything stopping this guy from winning that Grammy.

[kyeyuneregan]

That lady backing up is just the right fit for the performance 🔥

[VaiD]

This how many people who thinks he’s backup singer is always killing it
👇🏾

[CookingUpAStorm]

Tiny desk really getting everyone on here fr and I’m here for it

[derickshalo]

She holds him down in every performance and never strays.

[lasseelbk]

I love the way one of the pianist is not even paying attention to the keyboard.. He is just going with the flow. Amazing

[AngelVOPro]

Christina - Burna’s back up singer - is on Their voices blend so well. She needs to be brought forth!!!

[mua]

Burna boy looking like his manager just woke him up from a nap and told him to stand behind this desk and sing, and he still killed it!! His back up singer is amazing!! 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

[gracedaniels]

The fact that he’s been traveling the world and he looks kind of tired. He still graced Tiny Desk with his presence and KILLED IT! 💪🏿🏆 🔥

[oliviamandel]

Most of Afro beats lyrics are so relatable. Our lives, daily struggles, love, hate, friendship, government, betrayals, there is a song for everything. Blessed to be alive to witness this musical revolution.

[MissShila]

That background singer is punctuating all his words in such a glorious way! She’s something. She has a vibe.

[candyjamaican]

Good job Burna Boy but Sis in the back. She’s giving us more life than anyone else.

[nah_thando]

U can tell the backup singer is an actual fan of burna...the continent is proud👑👑.