Nigerian Afrofusion superstar Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, has received another monumental honor in the United States, as the City of Newark, New Jersey, has officially declared December 12th as “Burna Boy Day.”The proclamation was made by the Newark Municipal Council following the singer’s stop in the city as part of his “No Sign of Weakness” tour, which saw him perform at the 18,000-capacity Prudential Center.
The official declaration recognizes the Grammy-winning artist as a “global cultural ambassador” whose work has positively impacted communities worldwide. The city’s municipal council highlighted Burna Boy’s consistent use of his international platform to promote African culture, encourage unity, and inspire millions through his music, advocacy, and philanthropic efforts.
An excerpt from the official document reads:
“Whereas, the Newark Municipal Council proudly recognises Burna Boy, an internationally acclaimed artist, cultural ambassador and humanitarian whose work has uplifted communities across the world… Burna Boy has used his global platform to celebrate culture, promote unity and inspire millions through music, advocacy and philanthropy.”
Reacting to the honor, Burna Boy expressed his profound gratitude, stating the recognition made him feel truly accepted in the Garden State. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you so much for this. It means the world to me, and I can’t fully express my gratitude right now,” he said. “It’s always a great honour to be accepted by my people, and it makes me feel at home. Right now, New Jersey is home.”
This declaration marks the second U.S. city to dedicate a day to the Afrobeats star, following Boston, Massachusetts, which previously designated March 2nd as “Burna Boy Day” in 2024 to recognize his cultural impact and promotion of African music globally.
The continuous recognition of Burna Boy’s artistry and humanitarian efforts across major U.S. cities further underscores the burgeoning global influence of Afrobeats and Nige
