The widely acclaimed African Giant, as he prefers to call himself and is popularly known by, Burna Boy, is another force to reckon with in the Nigerian music industry. But do you know that some may banter with me about limiting his talent to a national level? This is because the Nigerian singer-songwriter has distinguished himself amongst his contemporaries in the music industry, thereby setting a pace for many others to chase. He has attained heights that depict a high level of professional success, which undoubtedly puts admirers and perhaps even haters in awe.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Burna Boy, a professional Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer, was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s ancient and most popular cities known for breeding a large pool of raw talents and creatives both in the music and comedy subsets of the Nigerian entertainment industry as well as its rich musical heritage.
His parents and maternal grandfather are often credited with having laid a solid foundation for the acclaimed African giant to build on. This is as his maternal grandfather Benson Idoniie is said to have once been the official talent manager of Nigeria’s legendary singer and Afrobeat pioneer, Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, popularly known as Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì or simply Fela Kuti. However, Idoniie was himself a veteran in the Nigerian music industry at the time.
While Burna’s biological father, often identified simply as Samuel, managed a wedding company, Burna Boy’s mother, Bose Ogulu, worked as a language translator. She is also rumored to have once been a backup dancer for the legendary Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì—a claim Burna Boy reportedly debunked during the Lagos leg of his Love, Damini tour on January 1, 2023.
The singer attended Corona Secondary School in Agbara, Ogun State, and later relocated to London, England, to further his studies, where he studied media technology at the University of Sussex from 2008 to 2009. He also studied media communications and culture at Oxford Brookes University from 2009 to 2010, after which he returned to Port Harcourt and stayed briefly before moving to Lagos, where he officially launched his musical career.
One thing not many people know about the singer is that during his stay in Port Harcourt, which was obviously after school, he served as an intern at Rhythm 93.7 FM, PH, for a year. This, we think, may have contributed immensely to his level of confidence behind the microphone and on every stage he dares to climb.
Quite interestingly, Burna Boy’s exposure to Fela’s revolutionary Afrobeat and the significant roles his grandfather played in shaping his musical tastes at a very tender age laid the foundation for his deep connection to the Afrobeat genre. But to the surprise of many, Burna Boy, upon launching his musical career, defied the odds and introduced an eclectic style of music that is a fusion of various genres, with Afrobeat serving as the foundation. To break the ice, Burna’s genre-defying nature of music is a result of his exposure to a diverse range of sounds, including highlife and reggae. He calls it “Afro-fusion” and seamlessly blends traditional African rhythms with elements of reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop while integrating lyrics often focused on themes of love, social justice, and the African experience, reflecting both personal and societal narratives.
He rose to stardom with his 2012 debut studio album, “L.I.F.E.: Leaving an Impact for Eternity,” which featured hit tracks like “Like to Party” and “Tonight,” but this was not loud enough until 2018 when he released the album “Outside,” which gained him international recognition.
The album’s standout tracks, such as “Ye” and “Gbona,” showcased Burna Boy’s ability to seamlessly blend Afrobeat with elements of dancehall, reggae, and hip-hop, even as the infectious beats and socially conscious lyrics resonated not only with African audiences but also with listeners worldwide. He didn’t stop there!
In 2019, Burna Boy took a quantum leap in achieving new heights with the album “African Giant,” which fetched him a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album and marked a historic moment for the Afrobeat genre of music. Despite losing the award, Burna Boy’s presence on the global music scene was felt and had become undeniable. Well, yet again, the “new cat,” as Davido once called him, didn’t go to sleep like most artists do.
He returned in 2020 with a brand new album titled “Twice as Tall.” This time around, the singer seemed more intentional and came specifically for the Grammys, as his new album not only earned him a Grammy nomination but also secured a historic win. He became the first Nigerian artist to win a Grammy, solidifying his status as a global music icon. The album, executive produced by Diddy, featured collaborations with international artists like Chris Martin, Stormzy, and Naughty by Nature. He is also, undoubtedly, a charismatic performer. This was proven one more time at the 66th Grammy Awards ceremony, which was held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4, 2024, where he lost out on all four award nominations.
Burna Boy, managed by his mother, Bose Ogulu, is signed to the American record label Atlantic Records. He is also the founder of the record label Spaceship Records, which is home to recording acts Nissi and producers LeriQ and Telz and was once home to the highly talented singer Bnxn, formerly known as Buju.
Ogulu the African Giant also prides himself on being one of Grammy’s most nominated African artists, with ten nominations and one win thus far. He was described by the Recording Academy as the “biggest artist in Africa” at the 66th Grammys. He also has, to his credit, seven studio music albums and several music features encompassing both local and international collaborations.
His love life with American rapper Steflon Don was perceived to have spanned from 2018 to 2022, but surprisingly, it was reportedly rekindled in the last quarter of 2023.
