By Ms. Korede O.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. He is one of the biggest and most successful African artists.
Burna Boy was born on July 2 1991 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His father managed a welding company, and his mother worked as a translator. His mother, Bose Ogulu, would later become his manager.
He grew up in southern Nigeria and began making his beats using FruityLoops. ( A digital audio workstation that deals with audio and pitch scaling)
He studied Media Technology at the University of Sussex, followed by Media Communications and Culture at Oxford Brookes University after attending Corona Secondary School in Agbara in Ogun State.
Burna Boy is the grandson of Benson Idonigie, a music critic and was for many years the manager of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and his music band from the late 1960s to the 1980s.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Burna Boy was only six years old when Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti passed away, but that was enough time for the future musician to be inspired.
“Everyone’s got their hero,” the 28-year-old Nigerian performer said. “For me, that’s my hero.”
His prominence began in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013).
His third studio album, Outside, marked his major-label debut.
In 2019, Burna Boy was featured on “JA ARA E” song in the Lion King: The Gift soundtrack album curated by Beyoncé for the 2019 remake of The Lion King.
Burna Boy realized the world was beginning to tune in and listen to the new and trending Afrobeats.
Burna Boy
In 2021, Burna Boy emerged as the first Nigerian living in Nigeria to win the Best Global Music Album Grammy category as a solo music act. He won the award with his 2020 album Twice as Tall.
Accepting the award virtually from Lagos, Nigeria, Burna Boy said, “Yes oh! Yes oh! Yes oh! Africa is in the house man; Africa, we’re in the house, you get me?
“This is a big win for my generation of Africans all over the world, and this should be a lesson to every African out there: no matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it, no matter where you’re from, because you are a king.
Burna Boy sees his music as a tool for the unification of Africa. This is evident from his comments in the wake of the Xenophobic attacks that rocked South Africa in September 2019.
His statement in GQ Magazine 2020 interview proves that:
“My family is Africa, which is why you will hear me speaking on the South Africa issue, which is why it strikes a nerve. It’s almost like having your whole body and your hand is not working. That’s what it feels like.”
“The reason for everything I do and how I do it is for one goal and one goal only, and that’s the eventual unity of Africa. One day we’ll have one passport, one African currency, one Africa. Then and only then will my mission be complete.”
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REFERENCES:
- https://apnews.com/article/35ac8c804e8a49c4ab5c47892036a540
- https://www.africanews.com/2021/03/15/grammy-awards-2021-nigerians-burna-boy-and-wizkid-win//
- https://www.un.org/africarenewal/news/nigerian-music-sensation-burna-boy-wins-grammy
