The Nigerian music artist and songwriter, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy was born on July 2, 1991 in Port Hacourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He rose to fame in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, the lead single from his 2013 debut studio album, L. I. F. E.
His father managed a welding company while his mother was a translator. Beson Idonije, hos grandfather was once Fela’s manager and his mother also managed Fela’s in his lifetime. Damini who grew up in southern part of Nigeria started by making his own beats using Fruityloops.
So far, Burna has had 47 nominations and won 23 out of them. Among the awards he won are, Best New Act of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2013, South Music Awards named his song “Like to Party” as Best Pop in 2013, TV Africa Music Awards honoured him as the Best New Act in 2014, L.I.F.E. which was named Best Album of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2015, he was nominated for YouTube artist on the rise in 2018, ‘Ye’ was named as Listener’s Choice at the Soundcity M.V.P. Awards Festival in 2019, at the Soundcity M.V.P. Awards Festival, Ye was named the Song of the Year in 2019, Best Male M.V.P. at the Soundcity M.V.P. Awards Festival in 2019, African Artiste of the Year at the Soundcity M.V.P. Awards Festival in 2019, Best International Act at the B.E.T. Awards 2019, Apple Music Up Next Artist in July 2019, among others.
Odogwu as he fondly calls himself attended Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State and later proceeded to London to study Media Technology at the University of Sussex, 2008- 2009. Shortly after this, he proceeded to Oxford Brookes University where he studied Media Communications and Culture from 2009 to 2010 after which he returned to Port Harcourt to take up an internship at Rhythm 93.7 FM. He later went to Lagos where he launched his music career.
We wish him a happy 31st birthday with many more fruitful years to come.
