Grammy award-winning Afrobeat artiste, Burna Boy

Published 19 hours ago

on April 2, 2021

By

The Tide

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has praised the exceptional exploits of Grammy award-winning Afrobeat artiste, Burna Boy, real name Damini Ogulu, as the pride of the state.
Wike made this assertion when Burna Boy, his parents and management team paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
The governor said the state was proud of Burna Boy for the rare distinction of becoming a winner of the prestigious Grammy Award.
“There is no Rivers person that will say he or she is not happy with the kind of pride you’ve brought us. I am very happy, and I can tell you, whatever you think we can do to promote you, we will continue to do it.”
Wike congratulated Burna Boy for the honour he has done to the people of the state all over the world, and explained that when news broke that Burna Boy was the winner in the Best Global Music Album category with his ‘Twice As Tall’ album, the entire state was elated.
“You’ve done us proud, and we owe you a duty to show you love. Wherever you are, your people appreciate you,” the governor said.
The governor urged Burna Boy not to relent in his musical endeavour as the state government would continue to give him all the necessary support he requires.
Earlier, Burna Boy had said he was deeply grateful and incredibly humbled by the reception and honour conferred on him by the Government of Rivers State.
“I really appreciate being here. This is probably the biggest honour that will be bestowed on me since I was born. It is one thing to win the Grammy, and to be applauded everywhere else in the world, and another thing to be loved in your own home, and that, to me, is worth more than anything I can get. So, I appreciate you my governor for taking your time out to do this”, he said.
It would be recalled that Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album category with his ‘Twice As Tall’ album at the 63rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, United States.
It would be recalled that Burna Boy was received by a large crowd of fans and supporters after he landed at the Legend Business Jets Terminal at the Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa.
The fans and supporters, who were super excited and overwhelmed by the musician’s success story, hailed him by the title of one of his songs, “Odogwu”.
His Homecoming, organised by the Rivers State Government to celebrate him for making the state proud at the international scene by winning the Grammy at the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony, witnessed superlative musical performances, during which the ace musician thrilled fans to all his hit songs, including “Odogwu” and “Onyeka”, along with other artistes.
After all the artistes had performed on stage at a reception, Saturday night, the governor thanked them for honouring the invitation, and said that the state was proud to be associated with the artistes.
He also announced a gift of a plot of land at the prestigious Old GRA to Burna Boy and money to enable him build a house of his choice on the land.
The excited Wike also decorated the Afrobeat superstar with the second highest state award known as the Distinguished Service Star of River State (DSSRS), which is the same honour bestowed on deputy governors.
The DSSRS is the second highest distinction in Rivers State Order and is conferred on individuals in recognition of their exceptional service/performance in any field of human endeavour.

The governor’s wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, who hails from the same Ahoada West with the musician, presented the award certificate to Burna Boy while the Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, gave him the award medal in the presence of top artistes such as Timaya, Duncan Mighty, Omah Lay, Mosey B, among others.
The governor recalled that the state once produced the Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Agbani Derego, insisting that Rivers State was blessed with talents.