You’re a Burna Boy fan, but all you know about him is his stage name and that his first name is Damini? No worries! How many of these facts did you already know?
Let’s talk about Burna Boy beyond the music, beyond the bravado, beyond the Odogwu status. We all know him as the African Giant who took Afrobeats to the global stage, but who is he outside the sold-out arenas and chart-topping hits?
Burna isn’t just another artist riding the Afrobeats wave—he’s a force that has helped redefine it. His music is a masterful fusion of sounds, borrowing from the past while creating something new. Through the years, Burna has been an impressive talent whose music has largely contributed to redefining Afrobeats internationally. With his bold, rebellious style and fearless approach to creativity, aside from making samples from legendary artists and reshaping them into colourful melodies, did you also know that he would rather define his music as Afro-fusion rather than call it Afrobeats?; a genre he has carefully crafted by blending Afrobeats with reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop, making his music distinctly his own.
But beyond the music, there’s so much more to the award-winning artist. Let’s dive into 10 things you probably didn’t know about him.
1. He wasn’t always called Burna Boy
Before we knew Damini as Burna Boy, his stage name was once “Shotgun.” He later changed this name because of his love for superhero comic books.
2. Burna Boy did not come from “nothing”
If you ever hear Burna brag about coming from “nothing” or hinting at suffering from a young age, understand that he’s stretching the truth. As a kid, Burna Boy attended private schools in Nigeria and studied Media Technology at the University of Sussex and Media Communications at Oxford Brookes University.
3. Burna Boy is family-oriented
It might not be as visible, but this artist is a family-oriented artist. His mother, Bose Ogulu, is his manager, and he started a music company, Spaceship Collective, where his siblings and mother are all involved.
4. Burna Boy has a day dedicated to him in Boston
Due to his impeccable talent and contribution to the global movement of Afrobeats, Burna Boy has a day dedicated to him in Boston on March 2.
5. His influence from Fela Kuti runs deep in his family roots
Burna Boy’s grandfather, Benson Idah, was a notable figure in the music industry who once managed the legendary Fela Kuti. This connection has deeply influenced Burna Boy’s musical style and aspirations.
6. He’s from Port Harcourt
The award-winning musician was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, a city in Nigeria’s southern state, Rivers. He attended private primary school in Port Harcourt and later joined a secondary school in Ogun State.
7. Burna Boy has had music in him since he was 10!
The Grammy winner began his musical career at the age of 10, using a music production software called Fruity Loops (FL Studio) to create his songs before moving to London for school.
8. He has a tattoo of Scarface Stewie
Among Burna Boy’s many tattoos is the Scarface Stewie tattoo—Stewie from Family Guy dressed as Scarface.
9. He once ventured into entrepreneurship
In 2018, Burna released a limited edition of cereals called Space Puffs. The cereals were sold during a pop-up event in London.
10. Burna Boy is the first Nigerian to headline Madison Square Garden
Burna made history as the first Nigerian artist to headline Madison Square Garden in April 2022 and has performed at major venues like Coachella and the Hollywood Bowl.
