Nigerian singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has made it to the Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 list.
The ‘Last Last’ hitmaker was grouped into the Icons category alongside others like celebrated actress Taraji Penda Henson, movie director Sophia Coppola, businessman and billionaire Mark Cuban and 25-year-old Palestinian photographer, Motaz Azaiza.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 17, Time Magazine said: “We spend months discussing who belongs on the TIME100, the people who we believe most changed the stories that define the past year.”
For its essay on Burna Boy, the magazine chose multi-Grammy-winning singer Angelique Kidjo to pay tribute to the Afrobeats star.
She wrote: "Ten years ago or so, when young African musicians would come to me for advice, I would tell them, “You don’t need to mimic American artists! The world needs the amazing richness and beauty of our traditional African music and our culture. This land is where most of modern music comes from. This source of inspiration is inexhaustible. Its freshness and its elegance will get the world’s attention for sure.”
Burna Boy has made that vision a global reality.
Inspired by the fantastic drums of Nigerian folk music, and studied in the craft of the great African singer-songwriters, he follows in the footsteps of Fela Kuti—the internationally celebrated Afrobeats artist and activist.
Burna Boy’s deeply original flow and his signature groove have conquered the world with an impressive series of firsts: in 2023, he became the first African artist to sell out a U.S. stadium, and in 2024, he became the first Afrobeats artist to sing at the Grammys.
He is history in the making. Now a whole generation of young people from the continent is looking up to him."
Latest Stories
-
OSP’s request for money laundering probe against Cecilia Dapaah baseless – AG advises EOCO
4 mins -
Obofour Raphael releases ‘Asem Yi Di Ka’ EP
6 mins -
‘Operation Clean Your Surroundings’: Popular Kenkey joint and public toilets in Takoradi shut down
33 mins -
GFA boss Kurt Okraku graces Dreams FC’s dinner to celebrate CAF Confederation Cup exploits
53 mins -
We’ve intensified efforts to combat misinformation, hate speech ahead of elections- Akufo-Addo
56 mins -
Sekondi-Takoradi: STMA/Joy News’ ‘Operation Clean Your Surroundings’ taskforce arrest 10 for open defecation
1 hour -
Joy Prime’s Prime Morning celebrates May Day with gallant Officers of Ghana Navy
1 hour -
YAWC Network Ghana chapter holds National summit in Accra
2 hours -
Memories of a Baby Univers
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo calls for peaceful elections, says politics shouldn’t divide us
2 hours -
Yinson, West African Rescue Association and Ahanta West Municipality tackle malaria
2 hours -
NHIA releases over GHS170m to settle healthcare providers
3 hours -
GFA will continue to support clubs in Africa – Kurt Okraku promises
3 hours -
Oheneyere Mrs. Helen Opong-Kesse
3 hours -
University of Ghana Stadium to host WAFU B U-17 Cup of Nations
3 hours