Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (born July 02, 1991) was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is a Grammy Award-winning Nigerian Afro-Fusion singer and songwriter. He is professionally known as Burna Boy. His parents, Bose Ogulu and Samuel Ogulu, had vastly different professional backgrounds, with his mother working as a language translator and his father managing a welding company.
Interestingly, Burna Boy's maternal grandfather, Benson Idonije, was a well-known personality in the Nigerian music industry. He had previously managed the legendary Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, which perhaps influenced Burna Boy's interest in music from a young age.
Burna Boy's rise to fame began in 2012 with the release of "Like to Party," the lead single from his debut studio album, L.I.F.E (2013). He subsequently signed with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group internationally in 2017. In 2019, he won the coveted Best International Act award at the BET Awards and was also announced as an Apple Music Up Next artist.
Burna Boy's fourth studio album, African Giant, was released in July 2019 to widespread critical acclaim. It won Album of the Year at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for a Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, further solidifying his status as a musical force to be reckoned with.
In 2020, Burna Boy released his fifth studio album, Twice as Tall, which saw him exploring new sounds and collaborations with artists from across the globe. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, marking Burna Boy as the first Nigerian artist with back-to-back nominations at the Grammys.
In a historic moment for the Nigerian music industry, Burna Boy's Twice as Tall won the Best World Music Album award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021. This achievement cemented his status as one of the most accomplished and respected artists in the world of music.
Overall, Burna Boy's musical career has been marked by his distinct sound, socially conscious lyrics, and a fearless approach to exploring new styles and collaborations. He has become a symbol of African excellence and has inspired a new generation of African artists to make their mark on the global stage.
