Burna Boy Biography: Burna Boy is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who was born on July 2, 1991, in Ahoada, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is also known as Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu. Burna Boy was part of a music-loving family, as his father, Samuel Ogulu, managed a welding business while his mother, Bose Ogulu, was a translator and a businesswoman. Burna and his younger sister were brought up in a multicultural environment, as their father is from the Itsekiri ethnic group, while their mother is from the Yoruba ethnic group.
Early Life
Burna Boy grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where he attended Montessori International School and Corona, both located in the Lekki region. As a child, Burna Boy was always interested in music and attended music lessons at a local church. He began to experiment with different genres of music, including reggae, dancehall, and afrobeat. He also listened to artists such as Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and Lucky Dube, who influenced his music style. Burna Boy’s passion for music led him to start performing in school shows and local events.
Music Career
In 2010, Burna Boy moved to London, and he began to work on his music career in earnest. He released his debut single, “Freedom,” which received positive reviews and gained him some recognition in the music industry. Burna Boy released his first mixtape, “Burn Notice,” in 2011, which featured collaborations with different artists. The mixtape was followed by his second mixtape, “Burn Identity,” in 2011, which gained him critical acclaim and led to his first record deal with Aristokrat Records.
Burna Boy’s debut album, “L.I.F.E,” was released in 2013 and featured hit tracks such as “Like to Party,” “Run My Race,” and “Yawa Dey.” The album was well received and established Burna Boy as a rising star in the Nigerian music industry. The success of his debut album led to him being nominated for several awards, including the Best New Act of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Burna Boy Biography
In 2015, Burna Boy released his second album, “On a Spaceship,” which featured collaborations with Wizkid, Phyno, Flavour N’abania, and Olamide. The album was a commercial success and received positive reviews from fans and critics. It helped to cement Burna Boy’s place as an A-list artist in Nigeria.
Burna Boy’s third album, “Outside,” was released in 2018 and marked a significant shift in his music style. The album featured more of an Afro-fusion sound, and it was well received both locally and internationally. The lead single, “Ye,” became a breakout hit and was named song of the year at many music award ceremonies.
In 2019, Burna Boy released his fourth studio album, “African Giant,” which was his most successful album to date. The album featured collaborations with international artists such as Damian Marley, Future, and Jorja Smith. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Burna Boy gained international recognition for his music style, and he went on to perform at several international music festivals, including Coachella, Wireless, and Glastonbury.
Burna Boy Biography
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Personal Life
Burna Boy is known for his private lifestyle, and he keeps his personal life away from the media. However, he has been romantically linked to several women, including actress, Cynthia Morgan, and British rapper, Stefflon Don. In 2020, Burna Boy announced that he and Stefflon Don were no longer in a relationship.
In 2021, Burna Boy was involved in a controversy when he called for the dissolution of Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). His comments sparked nationwide protests in Nigeria, with young people demanding an end to police brutality and reform of the police force. Burna Boy also donated money to support the protest and used his platform to raise awareness about the issue.
Some of awards collected By Burna Boy
- BET Award for Best International Act – 2019, 2020
- MTV Africa Music Award for Best Male Artist – 2019
- Soundcity MVP Award for African Artiste of the Year – 2019
- All Africa Music Award for Best African Dance or Choreography – 2019
- Nigeria Entertainment Award for Afropop Male Artist of the Year – 2019
- Headies Award for Artiste of the Year – 2019
- African Muzik Magazine Awards for Artist of the Year – 2019
- Future Awards Africa Prize for Music – 2019
- Apple Music Album of the Year for “Twice as Tall” – 2020
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding International Song for “Own It” (feat. Stormzy and Ed Sheeran) – 2021
Some Music Featuring
- “Location” by Dave featuring Burna Boy
- “Ginger” by WizKid featuring Burna Boy
- “Ye” by Burna Boy
- “Anybody” by Burna Boy
- “Own It” by Stormzy featuring Ed Sheeran and Burna Boy
- “Jerusalema (Remix)” by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode
- “Wonderful” by Burna Boy
- “On the Low” by Burna Boy
- “My Oasis” by Sam Smith featuring Burna Boy
- “Monsters You Made” by Burna Boy featuring Chris Martin
Some concerts
- African Giant Tour – London, UK – November 3, 2019
- Twice as Tall Tour – Abidjan, Ivory Coast – December 31, 2020
- Life on the Outside Tour – Lagos, Nigeria – September 30, 2018
- African Giant Tour – Amsterdam, Netherlands – October 24, 2019
- African Giant Tour – Accra, Ghana – November 22, 2019
Burna Boy and Grammy Award
Burna Boy is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and musician who won the Best Global Music Album award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 2021. He was recognized for his fourth studio album, “Twice as Tall,” which was released in August 2020. Burna Boy Biography
The album features collaborations with several international and African artists, including Stormzy, Youssou N’Dour, Sauti Sol, Chris Martin, and Naughty by Nature. It blends Afrobeat, dancehall, and R&B styles and addresses themes of resilience, African unity, and personal growth.
Burna Boy’s win marked a significant moment for African music, as it showed the world the power and impact of its vibrant and diverse sounds. He was previously nominated for the same award in 2020 but lost to Angelique Kidjo.
Burna Boy has been widely praised for his unique sound, lyrical prowess, and efforts to elevate African music on the global stage. He remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent and influential musicians, with a prolific career spanning over a decade.
Conclusion
Burna Boy is one of the most talented and successful artists to come out of Nigeria in recent times. He has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, both locally and internationally. Burna Boy’s music style is unique, and it blends different genres of music to create an Afro-fusion sound. He has won several awards for his music, including the BET Award for Best International Act and the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act. Burna Boy continues to push boundaries with his music, and his future looks bright.
Burna Boy Biography
