By Olusegun Olanrewaju
For popular Nigerian music star, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, alias Burna Boy, a grand, rewarding homecoming is on his way in his native Rivers State.
The Grammy Award winner, one of the most successful African artists, a passionate singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer, is set to be received and decorated by the helmsman of his home state, an appreciative Governor Nyesom Wike, for doing the nation proud.
It’s been learnt that the Rivers governor has approved a grand reception in honour of Burna Boy, with a directive to the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism to effect the hosting.
The reception is billed to hold in Port Harcourt on Saturday, 27th March, it was further gathered.
A post by a blogger on popular social media platform, Facebook, sums up the mood: ‘’It’s going to be a home-coming for the Rivers-born Grammy award winner.
….And It’s going to be a total shutdown of the city of Port Harcourt, with lots of guest appearances and showcase of Port Harcourt exports to the entertainment world.
Mr Projects will be on ground to honour that Ahoada Boy. Details of the event to be made available by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.’’
Last Sunday, Burna won an award for the Best Global Music Album ‘Twice as Tall’
at the 2021 63rd Grammys awards.
It was no mean achievement, as the star entertainer beat others in his ilk like Antibalas for ‘Fu Chronicles’, Bebe Gilberto (Agora), Anousha Shankar (Love Letters) and Tinariwen (Amadjar).
It was a day of multiple award for Nigeria as another top entertainer, Wizkid, won Best Music Video for ‘Brown Skin Girl’ alongside Beyonce. A top female act, Tiwa Savage, also won an honour at the Grammy for her collaboration with Coldplay.
But the nation is still celebrating Burna’s award because it was a victory achieved in such a small space, and only at the second attempt.
The organisers of the Grammy set the tone for Burna’s achievement when they described ‘Twice as Tall’, his fifth album, as ‘’a masterclass in the vibe and hustle that have made Burna Boy an international music force.’’
They added: ‘’He continues to torch limitations, seamlessly blending styles and genres and fearlessly fuelling the fire heating the melting pot of pop, Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae and more.’’
Plaudits have been pouring in from all quarters for Burna Boy’s achievement. But it is worthy to recall that President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Nigerian music star for his feat, saying he had made significant contributions to music that the world has come to recognise.
In an official tweet, the president, through his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said “Congratulations to Burna Boy on being conferred the 2021 Grammy, the world’s most prestigious musical awards. He has made notable contributions in the field of music which have brought glory to Nigerians at home & abroad. We are proud of his path-breaking achievements.”
Burna, 29, (born 2 July 1991) has really come a long way in the trajectory to fame. He rose to prominence in 2012 after releasing the lead single “Like to Party”, from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013).
In November 2015, Burna Boy released his second album, ‘On a Spaceship’.
That was followed in September 2016, by a 7-track debut EP, ‘Redemption’. The lead single in the album was “Pree Me” and it debuted on Noisey.
Wizkid, Burna Boy’s Grammy global endorsement of Afrobeat – FG
In 2017, Burna signed with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group internationally. His third studio album, ‘Outside’, marked his major-label debut.
In October 2018, On 7 October 2018, Burna Boy performed before a sold-out crowd at London’s O2 Academy Brixton.
2019, marked a good year as he won Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards, and was announced as an Apple Music Up Next artist.
In April of the same year,
he first revealed plans to release the album in April 2019, and held a private listening session in Los Angeles.
The path to higher glory was paved in 2020 when he was nominated for the Grammy Award for the ‘Best World Music Album.
The same year, he was nominated for the Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist.
His compositions include ‘Own It’, ‘One Dance’, ‘Location’, ‘Be Honest’, ·’My Oasis’, ‘All Eyes On Me’, among others.
Elated
Apparently remembering the circumstances trailing his loss to Angelique Kidjo with his ‘African Giant’ album in 2020, Burna Boy is celebrating his win with esteemed joy.
‘’To every African out there, no matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it; no matter where you’re from, you are a king. Look at me now – Grammy award-winning Burna Boy. Thank you everyone.’’
Veteran and versatile actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, has lauded Burna Boy’s Grammy exploit.
He said it would make people take their work a lot more seriously.
“It is going to make everyone stand up and take their work a lot more seriously. Once the international light shines on all of us, it would make people sit up and dream better like there are no limitations.’’
Asked if Burna Boy’s win would have a spill-over effect on Nollywood, the veteran actor said, “The Grammy won by not just someone who plays to entertain, but someone who plays to educate is going to blow the whole place wide open.’’
This is the message Governor Wike is planning to amplify.
