African Giant finds gold in UK
African Giant, a 19-track album by Nigerian singer Burna Boy which features collaborations with two Jamaican acts, was certified gold in the United Kingdom.
The gold certification was issued last Friday by the British Phonographic Industry, after African Giant sold over 100,000 copies in the UK, as measured by The Official Charts Company.
African Giant, which comprises a mixture of Afrobeats, dancehall, pop and hip hop, was released in June 2019 via Spaceship Entertainment/Atlantic Records/Warner Music.
Among the producers who worked on the album are Dre Skull (known for his work with dancehall artiste Popcaan) and Skrillex (who has worked with Damian Marley).
Marley is featured on Different with African singer Angelique Kidjo, while dancehall artiste Serani is featured with American R&B singer Jeremih on Secret.
Serani explained how the collaboration with Burna Boy came about.
“The song concept came from a song I had created before with Ishawna which was also titled Secret. I wanted to do it again even better. I recorded the song and then management sent it to Burna Boy and he liked it. The rest is history,” Serani told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash on Thursday.
“It was good working with a brother from Nigeria that I have much respect for. He’s done so much for his culture and to be there to witness some of his greatness, meant a lot to me,” he continued.
The song Omo features an interpolation from roots-reggae artiste I-Wayne’s 2004 Billboard-charting single Can’t Satisfy Her, while the track Gum Body features British singer Jorja Smith who is of Jamaican parentage.
Upon its release three years ago, African Giant peaked at 58 in Belgium, number 33 in Canada, number 16 in the United Kingdom, 12 on the Dutch Albums, number 54 in France, number 64 in Switzerland, and number 104 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
It was previously certified gold for sales of 50,000 copies in France.
African Giant was named Album of the Year at the 2019 All African Music Awards. It also earned a nomination for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
