Nigeria: Burna Boy Makes History At Ballon d'Or Awards
Burna Boy became the first Nigerian artist to present at the ceremony, where Saka received the Socrates Award for humanitarian work.
- On Monday, Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy presented the 2026 Socrates Award to Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, marking the event's first time held in the city during its 70th anniversary.
- France Football established the prize in 2022 to honor significant humanitarian contributions by players; named after the late Brazilian footballer, it recognizes social initiatives with previous recipients including Sadio Mane and Vinicius Junior.
- Through BigShoe, Saka supported surgical procedures for about 120 children in Kano State, Nigeria, in 2022, then assisted another 100 children in Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania in 2023.
- During his acceptance speech, Saka read a letter from 14-year-old Biringiro, a Rwandan boy whose eyesight was restored through BigShoe, emphasizing the importance of giving children opportunities to pursue ambitions.
- Burna Boy's appearance reflects the growing presence of Nigerian music stars at major international sporting events, joining artists like Rema and Davido who performed at the Ballon d'Or ceremony and FIFA World Cup.
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56 Articles
Burna Boy Makes History as First Nigerian Artist to Present at the Ballon d'Or
Burna Boy Makes History as First Nigerian Artist to Present at the Ballon d'Or - DancehallMag. Five years after Burna Boy and Wizkid turned the Ballon d'Or into a byword for success on their 2021 collaboration, Burna Boy finally stood on the actual. DancehallMag is an independent news outlet that covers all things Dancehall and Reggae music, the artists, and culture.
Burna Boy makes history as first Nigerian to present award at Ballon d’Or ceremony
Nigerian Afrobeat star, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy, has made history as the first Nigerian to present an award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. He made history after handing out the 2026 Sócrates Award to English footballer, Bukayo Saka. Burna presented the award to Saka on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the […] Burna Boy makes history as first Nigerian to present award at Ballon d’Or ceremony
Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka won the Socrates Award at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, but it wasn't his footballing achievements but his big heart that moved the world. He made the glittering evening very emotional by reading a letter from a child whose life had been changed thanks to the player's support. The Socrates Award was established in 2022 in the name of the iconic Brazilian footballer, known for his active civic stance. It honours fo…
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