Nigerian Afrobeats star and Grammy Award-winner, Burna Boy has clocked the enviable title of the first African artiste to have at least three albums being streamed 100 million times each on the global audio streaming service platform Spotify.
This revelation was contained in a tweet by music curators Chart Data. Burna Boy’s last three albums, African Giant, Outside and Twice As Tall, have each received the 100-million mark appreciation from listeners. This makes the Nigerian, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulum, the most sought-after Afrobeats star.
The record falls into a better perspective when Burna Boy’s works are compared to those of his compatriots among whom include Wizkid and Davido. The pair have also attained 100 million streams on at least one previous album. But together, Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido are currently Africa’s most recognizable musical acts globally.
Twice As Tall was awarded best global music album at this year’s Grammy Awards, and a lot of the praise went for Burna Boy’s mother and manager, Bose Ogulu.
Ogulu was named as one of the 2021 International Power Players by Billboard. Billboard’s International Power Players list recognizes industry leaders nominated by their companies and peers and selected by Billboard’s editors, with primary responsibility outside the United States, Billboard said. Honorees included label executives, music publishers, independent entrepreneurs, artist managers and concert promoters.
Ogulu, also known as Mama Burna, was recognized for her work amid the 2020 pandemic, when she co-executive-produced, released and promoted the Twice As Tall album for her Grammy award-winning son, Burna Boy, Billboard said.
Mama Burna herself comes from a proud family associated with music. Her father, Benson Idonije, was a popular radio host and Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti’s first band manager. Getting exposed to the music industry and the Nigerian art world at a young age, Ogulu was inspired to study languages. With a Bachelor of Arts in foreign languages and a Masters of Arts in translation from the University of Port Harcourt, she worked as a translator for the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce.
