Damini Ogulu who is popularly known as Burna Boy, has been on a-grass-to-grace-journey in his musical career; he has come from far, overcoming difficult and challenging hurdles in his musical career to this point of enjoying all the glory- this is worth celebrating.
The self acclaimed African Giant, born in 1991, developed a taste for reggae and dancehall music at a very young age via his father, he later learned about hip-hop from a young uncle who was then a hip-hop fanatic. Since then, Burna boy started exploring his music talents and has never looked back.
The 31-year old Port Harcourt-born Burna Boy in 2011 started his Burn Notice series and then rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, which introduced him to the world. To run up his introduction into the international scene, he released his Leaving an Impact For Eternity(L.I.F.E) 2013 album and his 2015 album ‘On A Spaceship’: which tremendously rose his fame as an African musician promoting unique cultures of Africa and African music.
In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States. He also signed a distribution deal with Warner Music, giving the company rights to distribute his music internationally. The next year, he dropped a banger, an album called Outside, and it changed everything- gradually placed him in the right path to winning a Grammy award in the near future.
Burna Boy was nominated for the first time in 2020 Grammy awards with his album, African Giant, but lost to his fellow African singer, four-time winner, Angelique Kidjo of Benin Republic. He admitted being hurt for not winning the Grammy that year on numerous media outlets.
“I know say one day e go better I go carry Grammy, because anything wey better require planning,” -Burna Boy.
Burna Boy picked himself up and worked harder for the the next edition of the Grammys. He released The Twice AS Tall album which scaled the hurdles that limited African Giant, gaining the praise of many who described it as a “masterclass”. At the end of the 63rd Grammy Awards ceremony held in Los Angeles Convention Center, Nigerian artist, Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album category for his Twice As Tall album.
Burna Boy gave an acceptance speech after winning the prestigious award:
“This is a big win for my generation of Africans all over the world. This should also be a lesson to every African out there that no matter where you are, know what you will like to do, you can achieve it,” he said.
Burna continues to reach limitless heights, with him seamlessly blending styles and genres; Afrobeat, pop, dancehall, reggae and more.
Among his many successes and records, Burna Boy has stamps in major venues of the world’s culture capitals. He sold out and played shows at the London’s O2 arena, the Hollywood Bowl and Coachella, The recent tours he has embarked on around the world has proved his influence in the Global music space. In 2022, Burna Boy sold out the world-renowned 20,000 Madison Square Garden, the 20,300 Accor Arena in France, the Ahoy Arena with a 16,500 capacity, the Ziggodome in Holland, the 19,000 Toyota Centre in Houston, and the 21, 000 State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Burna Boy is undeniably a world-class artist who has been offered, and has fully taken the opportunity to reach his full potential, climbing to heights that many were convince was impossible to reach as an African musician.
More is surely to come for This AFRICAN GIANT!