Burna Boy is arguably the biggest music artist on the continent right now but what most people don’t know about are the women in his life – most of them doubly featuring in both his personal life and business. But who are they? His mother Bose Ogulu is Burna Boy’s business manager, his younger sister Ronami Ogulu is his stylist, Burna’s youngest sister Nissi Ogulu frequently opens for him at his tour stops and Stephanie Allen aka Stefflon Don is his girlfriend.
These are the women in Burna Boy’s life, the women closest to his heart:
Bose Ogulu
Often referred to as his ‘momager’ by the press, Bose Ogulu had an accomplished career as a translator and entrepreneur before she started managing her son’s affairs. Of course, being the daughter of Fela’s first band manager also helps. But her speech at the BET Awards in June 2019 was perhaps her most famous moment and what made us all children of ‘Mama Burna’.
She said:
“Thank you BET, Thank you Africa because that’s the constituency for which we got noticed in the first place. The message from Burna, I believe, will be that every black person should please remember that you were Africans before you became anything else.”
Ronami Ogulu
In 2012, while Burna Boy was just about to shoot the video for his breakout single Like To Party, Ronami Ogulu was an A Level student in the UK who was home in Nigeria for the holidays. However, the coincidental case of a Versace shirt (which Burna Boy wore in the Like To Party video) and ‘matching’ Versace sunglasses (which she had gotten for Burna Boy as a gift) started her career as Burna Boy’s stylist. Today, she styles him for almost everything – award shows, tour stops, media appearances and many more. She has also been able to parlay that into a career as a celebrity stylist.
Nissi Ogulu
Also known by her stage name Nissi Nation, Nissi Ogulu is the youngest Ogulu child and an artist herself. She is also managed by her mother and has opened for Burna Boy at at least 90% of his tour stops since 2019. She has also performed at her own intimate shows in Nigeria and also at alternative festivals like Native Land. Apple Music has also included her 2019 song “Trouble/Tornado” in several of its Nigerian playlists. She is definitely on her way to becoming a top-shelf artist.
Stephanie Allen
Better known as Stefflon Don, Stephanie Allen is a British rapper, singer and songwriter and also Burna Boy’s girlfriend. She became famous after her 2017 single “Hurtin’ Me” featuring French Montana peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. Since they publicly confirmed their relationship in February 2019, both Burna Boy and Stefflon Don have been seen together on award red carpets, cruising around in a Rolls Royce in Lagos and at several shows and family events. The couple met in Ghana when Burna was recording songs for his African Giant album. In a 2019 radio interview, Stefflon Don said,
“That’s my lover and best guy. We love each other so much – it’s crazy. I’m going to have his babies.”
Obviously, being a successful musician is not an easy task and staying one is an even taller order. Artists need support systems they can rely on and trust. That is what these women represent to Burna Boy and because they are superstars in their own right, we can only stan. It’s the fitting thing to do.