Beyond streaming, live performances and international tours have become the primary revenue streams for African artists. These global stages allow them to earn high fees in foreign currency while performing for tens of thousands of fans.
Congolese, Fally Ipupa set a historic benchmark on November 25, 2023, during his “Formule Tour.” His performance at the Paris La Défense Arena with a 40,000-seat capacity grossed $3.16 million. According to Touring Data, this remains one of the most successful tour by an African in Europe.
However, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has since raised the bar even higher. As of 2026, he holds the record for the highest-grossing concert by an African musician, earning $6.147 million from a single night at London Stadium in 2025 during his ‘I Told Them Tour’. 
His ‘No Sign of Weakness’ global tour further solidified his position ; the Oceania leg alone generated $3.1 million across four shows, anchored by a record-breaking $1.117 million performance at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.
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Wizkid is also a close contender, his three-day sold-out concert during his ‘Made in Lagos’ Tour in 2021 at the O2 Arena in London was a remarkable success, generating over $2.9 million (around ₦5.2 billion) from the sale of 50,814 tickets.
While Fally Ipupa and Burna Boy both are elite African touring acts, Burna Boy currently has the edge in total revenue and single-night earnings.
While they were once “tied” in the $3 million range for specific milestones, Burna Boy’s London Stadium show nearly doubled that figure, making him the undisputed champion in single-concert revenue.
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