Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has commended Nigerian singer Burna Boy and other entertainers for helping to improve the country’s image internationally.
Dangote made the remarks during a media briefing at the Dangote Vision 2030 event on Monday, October 19, 2026, where he recalled visiting Grenada for the first time and being surprised to see Burna Boy featured on a billboard shortly after arriving on the island.
For him, the sight reflected the growing international reach of Nigerian music and the role artists play in introducing the country to audiences around the world.
Dangote said Nigerian entertainers who represent the country positively deserve greater recognition, arguing that public attention should focus more on their achievements than on Nigerians involved in activities that damage the country’s reputation abroad.
"These are our ambassadors, and this is what we need to be talking about. We should not be talking about somebody in Nigeria who was caught with drugs elsewhere, we are not the only ones, other countries have these issues, but some of us over blow these issues to demarket ourselves," he said
His comments come as Burna Boy continues to gain international recognition for his contribution to African music. The singer was recently included in Forbes’ list of 15 African Icons alongside prominent figures such as Dangote, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu.
Social media users were quick to weigh in on Dangote's comments, with many celebrating what they saw as a well-deserved recognition of the Grammy-winning artist.
Read the comments from Twitter below: @Stepheniswicked wrote: "Burna boy is the face of African music globally."
@OllieOkewu reacted: "Burna boy is far gone ♥️🦍"
@ThatPhCityboy7G commented: "una go dey Wonder why Burna dey sell out stadiums everywhere"
Burna Boy has helped bring Afrobeats and African culture to a wider global audience through his music and international performances, strengthening Nigeria’s presence in the global entertainment industry.
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