This Saturday will be a big day for Nigerian musician and global superstar Burna Boy.
Not only will the 32-year-old be performing at TD Garden Saturday night, but Boston has also officially named March 2 as “Burna Boy Day” in the city.
“For too long, mainstream narratives have marginalized African voices and overlooked the richness of the continent’s cultural heritage,” a proclamation from Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune reads. “With Burna Boy’s rise to prominence highlighting a shift in this paradigm.”
Known for popularizing Afrobeats, Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, rose to fame after releasing “Like to Party” in 2012. The song served as the lead single from his debut album “L.I.F.E.” that was released in 2013.
In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Atlantic Records in the United States (and its parent company Warner Music Group) to release his third studio album “Outside” in 2018, according to Billboard.
His most recent, and sixth, studio album “Love, Damini” was released in 2022 and became the highest debut of an African album on the Billboard 200 chart, Notjustok reported.
Burna Boy has been the recipient of multiple accolades throughout his career including Album of the Year at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards, African Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards, Best World Music Album at the the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards and Best International Act at the BET Awards.
Rolling Stone also ranked him number 197 on its list of the 200 greatest singers of all time in 2023. Burna Boy has also been a vocal advocate for social justice across the world.
“BurnaBoy proudly embraces his Nigerian and African identity, infusing it with contemporary sounds to create music that resonates with audiences worldwide, thereby challenging stereotypes about African artistry and opening doors for aspiring artists from similar backgrounds,” the proclamation reads.
“Through his performances and advocacy work, Burna Boy amplifies the voices of marginalized communities and advocates for their recognition and rights, using his platform not only to entertain but also to educate and inspire, starting conversations about social justice, equity and representation,” it continued.
Those looking to snag last-minute tickets to Burna Boy’s concert can find them on VividSeats or Stubhub.
