Damini Ogulu popularly known by his stage name as Burna Boy is a famous Nigerian Afrobeat and reggae-dancehall singer, songwriter, stage performer and a recording artist. He was born on 2nd July 1991 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He is currently 27 years old. He began making music when he was just 10 years old and while at school a fellow classmate gave him a copy of the production software FruityLoops.
Burna Boy was born in Port Harcourt to Bosede and Samuel Ogulu. He is originally from Ahoada, a small town in Rivers State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He is the only son of his parents and being the eldest of three siblings comprising of girls only. He came from a family who appreciated music but prioritized education.
He spent most of his summer holidays in the United Kingdom and in language immersion summer camps in France, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire, before finally moving to the United Kingdom where he picked up the Brixton Patois accent which has become his signature move.
Burna Boy attended Montessori International primary school in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 2002. After completing his primary school education, Burna Boy attended Corona Secondary School in Lagos, Nigeria and obtained his West African Senior School Certificate in 2008. While at Corona school, Burna Boy founded and led a high school band called “Def Code” and headlined a performance at the national stadium as one of the highlights of the 50th anniversary of Corona schools.
After completing his secondary school education, Burna Boy studied Media Technology at the University of Sussex in United Kingdom from 2008 to 2009. From 2009 to 2010, Burna Boy studied Media Communications and Culture at Oxford Brooke’s University in United Kingdom. After that, he did a one-year internship with Rhythm 93.7 FM in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the south southern part of Nigeria, before signing a record deal contract with Aristocrat records and officially launching his professional music career.
Burna Boy started his music career professionally in 2010 and rose to prominence in 2012 after the release of his hit single “Like To Party” the first single from his first debut studio album “L.I.F.E”. He is currently signed to Atlantic Records and is widely regarded as one of the most talented, versatile and consistent artists in the Nigerian music industry with hit tracks like Yawa Dey, Like to Party, Tonight, Check and Balance, Don Gorgon, Soke, and Follow Me, amongst others. Burna Boy ever-changing but unique music style is majorly inspired by Fela Kuti, who was once managed by Burna Boy’s Grandfather Benson Idonije.
Burna Boy has worked with several Nigerian and International artists such as 2face Idibia, Sarkodie, Phyno, Flavor, Dbanj, and Wizkid, amongst others. On 31st May 2012, Burna Boy released a single titled “Like To Party” which brought him to prominence. On 5th September 2012, the video for “Like to Party” was released. The music video, which was shot by Squareball Media services, ran for 4 minutes and 9 seconds.
On 24th September 2012, Burna Boy released another hit single titled “Tonight”. On 31st December 2012, Burna Boy released the video for the song “Tonight”. In the music video, Burna Boy expresses his innate feelings.
On 12th August 2013, he released his first debut studio album “L.I.F.E.” which means Living Impact For Eternity. In 2014, Burna Boy split from Aristokrat records. In 2015, Burna Boy created his own record label called “Spaceship Entertainment.” He released his second debut studio album under his record label “Spaceship Entertainment on 25th November 2015. In September 2016, he released a 7-Track E.P. titled Redemption with the lead single, Pree Medebuting on Noisey.
In January 2018, Burna Boy was featured on the track “Sunshine Riptide”. In 2018, he released his third debut studio album “Outside” which received critical acclaim. It debuted at number three on Billboard’s Reggae Albums Chart. The album’s biggest single “Ye” ended up on the top of most end-of-year lists as Nigeria’s biggest song of 2018.
Burna Boy himself ended the year as Nigeria’s biggest artist of 2018. In October 2018, Burna Boy was featured as YouTube’s Artist on The Rise. On 3rd January 2019, Burna Boy was announced alongside with Mr Eazi to be one of the artists performing on Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
In 2018, Burna Boy won four awards at the Soundcity Music Video Awards which includes African Artist of the Year and Song of the Year” for his 2018 hit single “Ye”. In 2013, Burna Boy won Best New Act of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. In 2014, Burna Boy won Best New Act at the MTV Africa Music Awards.
In 2015, Burna Boy won Best Pop Artist of the Year at the Headies Award and Nigeria Entertainment Awards. In 2019, Burna Boy won Listener’s Choice, Best Male MVP, Song of the Year and African Artiste of the Year at the Soundcity MVP Awards.
Burna Boy is currently one of the richest and most influential artist in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $1.2 million.
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I quickly wanna say a very thanks to God that gave life and I also Thank Burna boy for all he has done in industry but my comments today is that Happy birthday to the young artist but deeply old in industry Burna Boy May you live long and may your light continue shining brighter .