Celebrity Bios
What You Should Know About Burna Boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He grew up in a musical family and was exposed to a wide range of genres, from Afrobeats to hip-hop. His mother, Bose Ogulu, was a language translator and a singer, while his father, Samuel Ogulu, was a welder. His maternal grandfather once managed Fela Kuti.
Education:
Burna Boy attended Corona Secondary school in Agbara, Ogun State for his primary education. In 2008, he moved to the United Kingdom to attend the University of Sussex, London, England where he studied Media Technology. He also studied Media Communications and Culture at Oxford Brookes University.
Career:
Burna Boy’s music career began in 2010, when he released his debut single “Like to Party.” In 2012, He gained popularity in Nigeria and eventually signed with Aristokrat Records in 2012. His debut album “L.I.F.E.” was released in August 2013 and received communication from music critics. The album ranked 10th on The Nigeria Entertainment Today on its list of the 12th best album of 2013. “L.I.F.E” later ranked number seven on the Billboard Reggae album charts. album’s success led to collaborations with international artists like J Hus and Jorja Smith.
Burna Boy left Aristrokrat records in 2014 and founder his own record label –Spaceship Entertainment in February, 2015. This further gave room for the release of his second album “On a spaceship” in November 2015.
Burna Boy released his third album “Outside” on 26th January, 2018 which he described as a mixtape with diverse musical genres. The album got applause from music critics and was ranked by Pulse Nigeria and Nigerian Entertainment Today as the best album of 2018.
His fourth album “African Giant” was released on 26 July, 2019. The album was supported by six singles.
Burna Boy released his fifth album “twice as tall” on 14th August, 2020. It was produced by Diddy and his mother, Bose Ogulu, who happens to be his manager. “Twice as tall” got nominated for the best global album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards and he won in that category in 2021.
On July 8th, Burna Boy released his sixth album “Love, Damini” with one of his singles “Last last” hitting a global mark. His Seventh album “I told them…” Was released in 2023.
Personal Life:
Burna Boy is known for his energetic live performances and advocacy for social justice. He has been involved in high-profile relationships, including with British rapper Stefflon Don. However, he is currently unmarried.
Awards and Recognition:
-Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Best New Act of the Year (2013).
-MTV Africa Music Awards for Best R&B single (2013).
-Headies Album of the Year (2014).
– BET Award for Best International Act (2019).
-African Artist of the year at Sound City MVP awards (2019).
-Nigerian Entertainment Award for Best Male Artist (2019).
African Music Award for Artist of the Year (2020).
– MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act (2020).
– Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album (2021).
-BET Award for best international Act (2021) etc.
Burna Boy is widely regarded as one of the most influential African artists of his generation. He has broken down barriers and paved the way for other African artists to succeed globally. His music blends Nigerian rhythms with international influences, creating a unique sound that has resonated with fans around the world.