A year after losing the Grammy he had openly said he deserved, Burna Boy came back and won it. In March 2021, Twice as Tall was named Best Global Music Album, making him one of the few Nigerian musicians to win a Grammy as a lead artist. For a performer who had named his previous album African Giant, it felt like confirmation of what he had been saying all along.
Early life and breakthrough
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu was born in 1991 in Port Harcourt. His grandfather, Benson Idonije, was a broadcaster and music critic who once managed Fela Kuti. Burna grew up surrounded by music. Fela’s influence runs through Burna’s music, from the horns to the political lyrics. He has spoken often about the Afrobeat legend’s impact on his work.
His 2012 single Like to Party made him a star in Nigeria, and his debut album, L.I.F.E., followed in 2013.
His 2018 album Outside, mixing Afrobeats with dancehall and British influences, built his audience abroad.
African Giant and the Grammy
African Giant, released in 2019, featured songs such as Ye and Anybody. It earned his first Grammy nomination, but it lost to Angélique Kidjo’s Celia. Kidjo dedicated her award to him. Twice as Tall, executive produced in part by Diddy, came out in 2020. It won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album in 2021. His 2022 album, Love, Damini, included Last Last, which became one of his biggest hits worldwide.
Burna headlined Madison Square Garden in 2022 and London Stadium in 2023, where tens of thousands of fans filled the venue for a Nigerian solo artist.
Controversy, politics and influence
He has faced controversies, including disputes with other artists and legal cases, and he is known for outspoken remarks online. He released I Told Them… in 2023 and continued to tour widely. His songs address colonialism, corruption and African identity, echoing Fela’s approach. He is credited with pushing the global reach of Afrobeats alongside Wizkid and Davido.
Burna often refers to Port Harcourt in his songs and interviews, and fans in the city treat his success as their own. Burna Boy called himself a giant before most of the world knew his name. The Grammy, the stadiums and the sold-out tours have made the title hard to argue with.
