Buga Goes Gold: Kizz Daniel and Tekno Strike U.S. ‘Lo-Lo-Loaded’ Success

The hit single Buga (Lo Lo Lo) by Nigerian superstars Kizz Daniel and Tekno has achieved a major international milestone: it has been officially certified Gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), meaning it surpassed 500,000 equivalent units through sales and streaming.

Released in May 2022, Buga quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Produced by BlaiseBeatz, Reward Beatz and Yung Willis, the track blends buoyant Afro-pop rhythms with lyrics in Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba that celebrate hard work and success. Its title “Buga” translates roughly to “to show off” or “to flaunt one’s successes,” capturing the celebratory mood that drove its global appeal.

In Nigeria, Buga dominated the charts. It reached No. 1 on the TurnTable Top 100 for several weeks and became the most-streamed song of the year in Nigeria in 2022. But breaking into the U.S. market and securing a Gold certification is a more difficult feat for African artists—and this milestone underscores not just the track’s widespread popularity but also the rising global influence of Afrobeats.

For Kizz Daniel, the Gold certification in the U.S. adds to his growing international credentials and helps cement his status as one of the artists leading Nigerian music onto the world stage. For Tekno, who is both a singer and producer, this partnership further highlights his role not only in front of the microphone but also behind the beat that helped make the song a global hit.

Of course, the story of Buga isn’t without its complexities. While it soared in popularity, the song’s success also stirred controversies between the collaborators. In 2024, Tekno and Kizz Daniel publicly exchanged comments over proceeds and credits relating to Buga. Such disputes highlight the behind-the-scenes tensions that can accompany big commercial success in the music industry particularly when a track breaks global boundaries.

In sum, the certification of Buga (Lo Lo Lo) as Gold in the U.S. is more than a plaque—it symbolizes a moment of global validation for a track born in Nigeria, embraced by millions, and now formally acknowledged in one of the world’s largest music markets. It serves as both reward and chapter marker for Kizz Daniel and Tekno—and for Afrobeats as a genre steadily charging onto the global stage.