Respected American Times Magazine don name Nigerian music star Damini Ogulu wey pipo know well-well as Burna Boy as one of di 100 most influential pipo of 2024.
Di 32-year-old Grammy-award winner na di only Nigerian wey make di list.
For one statement on Wednesday, 17 April, Times Magazine say, “We spend months dey discuss who belong on di TIME100, di pipo wey we believe most changed di stories wey define di past year.”
Di Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People dey recognise pioneers, leaders titans, artists, innovators plus icons, wey don make incredible impact for di world through dia art, activism and cultural impact.
Angelique Kidjo pen down tribute for Burna Boy
Grammy award winning musician, Angelique Kidjo write Burna Boy tribute on di Times Magazine website.
For her tribute, di legendary Beninese singer describe Nigerian Afro-fusion music star as history-making artist wey many young pipo dey look up to. She also praise am for im role in elevating African music go global stage.
“Ten years ago or so, wen young African musicians go come meet me for advice, go tell dem, “You no need to mimic American artists! Di world need di amazing richness and beauty of our traditional African music and our culture. Dis source of inspiration no dey finish. Its freshness and its elegance go get di world attention for sure.… Burna Boy don make dat vision a global reality.
Inspired by di fantastic drums of Nigerian folk music, and as pesin wey study di craft of di great African singer-songwriters, e follow for di footsteps of Fela Kuti—di internationally celebrated Afrobeats artist and activist.
Burna Boy deeply original flow and im signature groove don conquer di world wit an impressive series of firsts: for 2023, e become di first African artist to sell out a U.S. stadium, and for 2024, e become di first Afrobeats artist to sing for di Grammys. E be history in di making. Now a whole generation of young pipo from di continent dey look up to him” she write for di excerpt.
Di Times Magazine pair Burna Boy wit 21 Savage and e express im admiration for artists wey stay true to dia convictions like 21 Savage despite di challenges dem dey face.
“I know wetin e dey like to rise above challenging beginnings, and e make im success dey more remarkable. Throughout im work—including on im newest album, American Dream, wey open wit a reflection by im mother on dia immigration story—21 maintain authenticity wey resonate deeply. Im approach to rap dey refreshingly genuine; e dey speak to us in a relatable way, effortlessly navigating di complexities of di genre. Weda e dey tackle weighty subjects or offers moments of levity, im delivery remains compelling.”
Oda Africans wey make di list include di the president of Kenya, William Ruto and South African rugby player, Siya Kolis.
Di list also recognise social entrepreneur and author from Kenya, Kennedy Odede, Ghanaian-Scottish architect, Lesley Naa Norle Lokko, Ugbadian LGBT advocate, Frank Mugisha, and Congolese human rights activist Julienne Lusenge.
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