Nigerian Music apart from infiltrating the global scene is also making its way up on International charts like Billboard charts.
Burna Boy made history as his “Twice as Tall” album peaked at no 54 on Billboard 200, the highest peak for any Nigerian album.
While this is a new feat, there are other albums that have done well on the charts. So, here are the top 5 Nigerian Albums that have the highest positions on the Billboard 200
5. Sunny Ade – Juju Music
Released in 1982, under the Mango/Island Records Label, King Sunny Ade’s Juju Music album spent 29 weeks on the Billboard charts debuting at 111 on September 17, 1983.
When the album was released, it was described by The New York Times as the week’s best new dance music. At the time, King Sunny Ade was two years away from being touted to be the replacement for Bob Marley.
4. Sounds from the Other side
Wizkid released “Sounds from the others Side” in 2017 as his third studio album under a major label, RCA UK and his own label, Starboy records.
The album spent one week on the Billboard charts and peaked at 107 on August 5, 2017.
“Sound From the Other Side” was Wizkid’s first album under a major label. The album was majorly influenced by Caribbean sounds while encompassing other genres like Afrobeats, EDM, R&B, and house.
3. Burna Boy – African Giant
Burna Boy released one of his best albums, “African Giant” in 2019 under his Spaceship label and Bad Habit, Atlantic, Warner Labels.
The album spent one week on the chart and had a peak of 104 on August 10, 2019.
African Giant is considered to be Burna Boy’s best album so far as it earned him his first Grammy Nomination and brought him massive international success.
2. Sunny Ade – Syncro System
King Sunny Ade released Syncro System in 1983 under the mango and Island records. The album spent 7 weeks on the charts peaking at 91th position in September 24, 1983
In the week of September 3, 1983, the Billboard 200 charts was topped by Synchrocity – an album by The Police. A band that would soon be joined by British singer, Sting. At No. 2 was Thriller by Michael Jackson. Then, a little known Nigerian known as King Sunny Ade saw his album, Synchro System climb 30 places from No. 139 to No. 109 on the charts.
That same week, his other album, Juju Music was at No. 116 on the charts. The next week, the album then climbed another nine places to chart at No. 98 on the Billboard 200 – then known as Billboard Pop Charts. Juju Music climbed to No. 113 that same week too. The next week, Synchro System charted at No. 93 and then the next week, it peaked at No. 91.
1. Burna Boy – Twice as Tall
Burna Boy released his fifth studio album, “Twice as Tall” on August 14. 2020 under Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic/Warner labels. The album has spent one week on the Billboard chart peaking at 54th position on August 24, 2020.
On August 14, 2020, Nigerian singer, Burna Boy released his album, Twice As Tall. In its first week, the album became the first Nigerian album to have one million pure YouTube streams from Nigeria. It also debuted on the UK albums chart at 11, France at 29 and The Netherlands at 10.
But the biggest coup of all was charting at No. 54. A new record for Nigerian albums.
