Burna Boy is ‘sitting on top of the world’ as his career grows from strength to strength.
The Nigerian Afrobeats singer has chalked up many successes within the past year and cemented himself as Africa’s most prominent music star.
He became the first musician from the continent to headline a sold-out stadium show in the US and the UK. More recently, his latest album, I Told Them…, made giant strides into the top 10 in charts worldwide, historically topping the UK’s Album Charts upon its release.
Burna Boy’s mom calls her son a “work in progress”
Despite these impressive feats, Burna Boy’s mother feels her son has yet to hit his pinnacle. According to Bose Ogulu, who manages the City Boys hitmaker, Burna Boy’s full potential is yet to be fulfilled.
“I admire the diligence, the hard work but he’s still a work in progress,” Bose Ogulu, who also manages the Afrobeats singer. There are many more milestones to attain. We need to not just step down and look at what we’ve done, but keep doing more,” the BBC quoted her as saying.
Ogulu, fondly called Mama Burna by the singer’s fans, revealed that she had always known her son to have enormous potential, hence her decision to move away from her business to manage him full-time.
“From when he was in JSS3, which I think would be Year 9, we started trading studio time for grades. I would say: ‘Okay, if you make a B or an A in this, I’ll pay for studio time during your mid-term,’” she further stated.
Ogulu’s gamble on son paid off
Closely related to music herself –her father was once the manager of Fela Kuti– Ogulu understood the need to let her son explore his talents but was not ready to let him drop out of the university.
At a point, she requested Burna Boy to complete his university education. He agreed and moved to the United Kingdom to study Media Technology at the University of Sussex (2008–2009) and Oxford Brookes University (2009–2010) to study Media Communications and Culture.
After completing his studies, Burna Boy returned to his home city of Port Harcourt to undertake a one-year internship at Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt. From there, he signed with Aristocrat Records and moved to Lagos to launch his professional music career, and the rest is history.
For Mama Burna, even though the gamble has paid off and her son is flying high, the sky is not even the limit. And just like Oliver Twist, she is still asking for more, adding that:
“If we’re doing four stadiums, let’s do 10. There’s always a higher level to get to – and that should be our focus.”
Burna Boy announces I Told Them…Tour
Meanwhile, Burna Boy has announced a 16-city North American tour to promote his latest album, I Told Them…
Dubbed the I Told Them…Tour, the Live Nation-produced series of concerts, will kickstart on November 3, 2023.
Burna Boy and Fireboy DML win BMI Awards.
Earlier, Burna Boy and Fireboy DML, won at the 2023 BMI London Awards.
The Nigerian stars received the ‘Most Performed Work of the Year’ awards presented to over 20 songs.