Burna Boy continues to build his fanbase universally, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Recently, he won his second straight Best International Act awards at this year’s BET Awards, delivering a powerful acceptance speech in regards to Africa and Black lives overall.
This week, he keeps the momentum going with his new single “Wonderful,” a mix of English and Yoruba that sees Burna expressing excitement for his people and the globalization of their unique sound:
“Wonderful, I go show you wonder waa ri wonderful, you no go believe wetin won happen/
No disturbance when the gbedu wan catch you, iz like you dey sleep but this one pass you…/”
The accompanying visual sees Burna “somewhere in the land of warriors, kings and queens,” where he’s seemingly accosted by a gorilla and a tribal group of warriors. The clip then turns into an all out celebration, further showing viewers just how beautiful the music and culture is.
Via statement, Burna Boy explains the creation of the song and what it means to him:
“It’s important for me to show that music is a uniting force that transcends state lines, barriers and borders. This song is about the ‘wonders’ of seeing the impact of my music on people’s lives as they shared their joy, pain and pleasure with me while I toured the world. It serves as a note that no matter how far you go, or how hard you work; you must be ready to come home, the pandemic forced us all to take refuge in our homes. Above all, Africa is home, it is the motherland to all people. For us to truly matter, Africa has to matter.”
Press play on the Telz-produced “Wonderful” below. The track is said to be from Burna Boy’s forthcoming album Twice as Tall, which will hopefully arrive before year’s end.