Burna Boy

From the vibrant city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Damini Ogulu, better known by his stage name Burna Boy, embarked on his musical journey. He emerged into the spotlight in 2012, following the release of his hit single "Like to Party." His upward trajectory continued, leading to a partnership with Atlantic Records in 2017 for the release of his third studio album, "Outside." This album garnered positive critical reception and was deemed the best Nigerian album of 2018, earning Burna Boy the Album of the Year accolade at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. His reputation as a dynamic artist was further solidified when he was listed as one of Spotify's Afro Hub takeover artists and YouTube's Artist on the Rise in the same year.

With a consistent track record of producing chart-topping albums, Burna Boy's fourth studio album, "African Giant," won Album of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for Best World Music Album at the Grammy Awards. His fifth studio album, "Twice as Tall," went a step further, clinching the Best World Music Album award at the Grammy Awards in 2020. The album's success was mirrored on the Billboard World Albums Chart, where it debuted at number one. In addition to his musical achievements, Burna Boy also leverages his influence to effect positive change, as seen in his establishment of a relief fund for victims of the #EndSARS anti-police brutality protests in 2020.

Riding on this wave of success, Burna Boy's sixth studio album, "Love, Damini," released in 2022, debuted on the Billboard 200 chart. His prowess as a vocalist did not go unnoticed, as Rolling Stone ranked him number 197 on its list of the 200 greatest singers of all time. Beyond the studio, Burna Boy has also demonstrated his ability to captivate live audiences, becoming the first African artist to sell out a stadium show in the United States in 2023 and the first artist from Africa to perform at the UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show. His contributions to the music industry have been recognized with numerous awards, including four Best International Act wins at the BET Awards and the inaugural Best Afro Beats award at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Burna Boy was also listed in Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2024.