The reception by the Rivers State Government in honour of music maestro, Damini Ogulu, alias Burna Boy, turned out to be a cultural carnival of sorts, Emma Obe writes

Port Harcourt has not seen a thing like this; not since 2001 when the city erupted in ecstasy over the crowning of home girl, Agbani Darego, as Miss World and when then Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, hosted her to a lavish reception.

But this year, the celebrations took a superlative turn with digital displays and star performances by popular and upcoming artistes as the city rolled out the red carpet and strummed the drums to welcome home boy, Damini Ogulu, globally known as Burna Boy, who on March 14 won the 63rd Edition of the Grammy Awards in faraway Los Angeles, capital of the movie world and showbiz.

The cultural blend was provided by Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, whose dancers gyrated and wriggled to unending applause from the excited audience at the EUI Event Centre, Sani Abacha Road, G.R.A Phase III.

It was a new thing in this part of the world, and the people could not hold back their emotions to welcome the tall but humble artiste, whose hit track, ‘Twice as Tall’ won him the coveted shield of the World Best Music Album for the Year 2021.

It was an opportunity for the Port Harcourt crowd to showcase their very best in the music and entertainment industry. And they did not waste it at all.

Though the main show took place at the EUI event centre, the mood for the day was ignited at the Government House, Port Harcourt, where the chief host, Governor Nyesom Wike, treated Burna Boy, his mother, his father and family to a state banquet before the train snaked through the heart of the city to the event centre, which was already charged for the night. Hundreds of young music enthusiasts had earlier in the day laid in wait at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, for the arrival of Burna Boy, who they escorted in a motorcade to the Government House.

The show at the event centre started with a performance by upcoming comedian, Busy Mouth Efe, who kept the crowd reeling in laughter before Danny Spry and the other known comedians took the stage. The callisthenic displays under a super lighting system were simply phenomenal. Further colour was added with cultural dances, masquerade displays and mock wrestling by members of the state cultural troupe.

And what better way to start the night other than with Port Harcourt First Son himself, Duncan Wene Mighty, with his hit track, Port Harcourt Boys. Then came the turns of Timaya, Mozy B, Missy, Omah Lay, Ajebo Hustlers, Sensational Bamidele and others.

The state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Tonye Briggs Oniyide, who coordinated the entire reception, found time to say a word for Burna Boy.

She said the Afrobeat crooner’s nomination showed that he proved value through his creativity and hard work.

“Burna Boy’s victory on the global stage will be a springboard for other artistes to aspire to great heights,” she said.

The governor could not conceal his joy. “This is one of the happiest moments of my life,” Wike declared. Indeed, he made good his joy with the string of declarations that followed.

After conferring Burna Boy with the second highest honour of the state, Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSR), the governor offered him land in GRA and money to develop it.

He didn’t stop there. He told the visiting entertainers that when they go back to Lagos, they would tell their friends that they came to Port Harcourt. Accordingly, the governor started a naira rain, doling out N10 million to each of the artistes that performed at the reception. A few days later the bank accounts of the artistes received the alerts.

Burna Boy was humbled in his response. “I really appreciate being here. This is probably the biggest honour that will be bestowed on me since I was born. It is one thing to win the Grammy and to be applauded everywhere else in the world and another thing to be loved in your own home and that to me is worth more than anything I can get. So I appreciate you my governor for taking your time out to do this”.

Wike receives Grammy award winner, Burna Boy, says he’s pride of Rivers state

A Port Harcourt-based performing artiste and Chairman of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Eleme Local Government chapter, Udeme Obot, told This Nigeria that Burna Boy’s story is a lesson for every artiste struggling to break the glass ceiling.

“Burna Boy started like you and I on the streets. He didn’t blame the government for not offering him buttered bread. He built resilience and kept on keeping on.
“Burna Boy would do anything to grab the microphone and entertain. At the Variety Night of Rivers State Golden Jubilee Celebration, Burna Boy yearned for more time. He even begged the governor who was present at the event for more time because, according to him,” he had missed the Port Harcourt crowd for some time.
“There is a Burna in every boy in Rivers State. Don’t wait for the ladder. A good P-Town boy knows how to struggle and hustle for the laurel,” Obot said.

The success of the Burna Boy reception brought back fond memories for the now rested CARNIRIV, the state government sponsored end-of-year carnival. That is exactly the view of Ate Chinwi, a Port Harcourt-based multi-media journalist.
Ate said, “With the massive trends and global attention this singular home coming concert in honour of Grammy Award Winner Burna Boy have accorded Rivers State for the past 20hours, I want to request that the governor should kindly reinstate the following: Bring Back CARNIRIV.”

Burna Boy, born in July 1991 in Port Harcourt, is a dancer, singer, songwriter and rapper. His father, Samuel Ogulu, ran a welding shop while his mother, Bose, was a translator. His grandfather Benson Idonije once managed the late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Burna Boy attended Corona Secondary School in Agbara, Ogun State before relocating to London to study Media Technology at the University of Sussex and Media Communications and Culture at Oxford Brookes University. He has been a partner of renowned World model, Naomi Campbell since 2020.

He became known in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, which became the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group.
His third album, ‘Outside’ was a major label debut. He began winning awards in 2019 with the Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards, and was announced as an Apple Music Up Next artist. His fourth album, ‘African Giant’ was released in July 2019. It won the Album of the Year at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
He was awarded the African Artist of the year at the 2020 VGMA’s. In 2020, his album ‘Twice as Tall’ was nominated for the same category at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, making him the first Nigerian with back-to-back nominations at the Grammys.

Then finally on March 14, 2021, he won the award for Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.