Real name Damini Ogulu, Nigerian vocal powerhouse Burna Boy has won a Grammy award for his 2020 album Twice As Tall. The Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper has grown rapidly, his music maturing and his ascending direction becoming decidedly focused. Burna Boy’s winning album Twice As Tall has been reviewed as a compelling body of work that takes on Yoruba and Pidgin verses, with innovative yet commercial sounds from his Nigerian producers, some high-profile collaborations, and a showcase of the artiste’s political awakening.
The celebrated Afrobeat singer accepted the major recording academy recognition via a video appearance, elatedly saying in his speech that this is a huge moment for Africa. “Every African out there, no matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it. You are a king. Thank you to everyone, my whole family is here! ” said the artiste as his loved ones cheered and celebrated in his video background.
Burna Boy first made his name in 2012 as a vibes-bringer; he surfed a wave of youthful Nigerian confidence that aped US bling but refashioned it for a new generation of young Africans. Experience has deepened and broadened him. It is a mark of Burna Boy’s distinctiveness that not even the more overweening of the egos on board really staunch his flow, His work is praised as a portrayal of modern Africa with cleverly deconstructed phrases, familiar-sounding black music concepts, all of which are described as ‘utterly original.
The African superstar was nominated for a Grammy last year, where he was up against Netherlands rock band Altin Gün, Creole- French group Bokanté in their collaboration with the Netherlands Jazz band Metropole Orkes, Haitian-American act Nathalie Joachim and Beninise singer Angelique Kidjo.
He lost out to Kidjo, who took home the award for her album Celia, which was commended as a reinvention of Salsa and inventive reinterpretation with powerful singing and a mix of strong cultures.
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