Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu MFR, is a highly accomplished Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He gained immense popularity in 2012 when he released “Like to Party,” the lead single from his debut studio album, L.I.F.E (2013). He further established his career by signing with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group internationally in 2017. Burna Boy’s third studio album, “Outside” (2018), marked his major-label debut.
His talent and success have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. In 2019, Burna Boy won the Best International Act at the BET Awards and was named the Apple Music Up Next artist of the year. His fourth studio album, “African Giant,” released in July 2019, received critical acclaim, winning Album of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards and earning a nomination for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Additionally, he was honored as the African Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards. Burna Boy’s fifth studio album, “Twice as Tall,” released in August 2020, also received acclaim, winning the Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He once again won the Best International Act at the 2021 BET Awards.
Recently, Burna Boy released his sixth studio album, “Love, Damini,” in July 2022, which made a significant impact by becoming the highest debut of an African album on the Billboard 200 chart. It also reached high chart positions in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to music, he was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic plaque in October.
Beyond music, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu’s background and upbringing are noteworthy. He was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. His mother, Bose Ogulu, has been instrumental in his career, having been a language translator and later becoming his manager. His father, Samuel, managed a welding company, and his maternal grandfather, Benson Idonije, previously managed Fela Kuti.
Burna Boy’s education includes attending Corona Secondary School in Agbara, Ogun State, and pursuing studies in media technology at the University of Sussex and media communications and culture at Oxford Brookes University. He honed his music skills while interning at Rhythm 93.7 FM in Port Harcourt before launching his music career in Lagos.
Burna Boy’s debut studio album, “L.I.F.E,” was released on August 12, 2013, and was a significant success, selling 40,000 copies on its first day. The album was produced entirely by Leriq and featured collaborations with renowned artists like 2face Idibia, M.I Abaga, Timaya, Olamide, Reminisce, and Wizkid.
Inspired by musical legends like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Bob Marley, the album received praise from critics and landed on Nigeria Entertainment Today’s list of the 12 Best Albums of 2013. It even reached number seven on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
Following his departure from Aristokrat Records in 2014, Burna Boy founded his record label, Spaceship Entertainment, in February 2015. He continued to release music, including his second studio album, “On a Spaceship,” on November 25, 2015, and his debut extended play, “Redemption,” in September 2016.
Burna Boy’s journey in the music industry has been marked by consistent growth and recognition, with his unique style and cultural influences captivating audiences worldwide. In 2023, Rolling Stone included him in its list of the 200 greatest singers of all time.
At the 2023 BET Awards, Burna Boy secured his fourth win in the Best International Act category, solidifying his position as a dominant force in the music industry.
