Bose Ogulu, the influential mother and manager of Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy, has received a nomination for the prestigious Best Manager of the Year award at the 2025 MusicWeek Awards. This announcement, celebrated across social media, underscores Ogulu's significant role in the music industry. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London on May 8.
This nomination follows Ogulu's 2022 win for Manager of The Year at the Artist & Manager Awards in London, where Burna Boy honored her alongside Sheniece Charway from YouTube Music.
This year, Ogulu is competing against a formidable lineup of industry leaders, including Alistair Goldsmith, Prof Jonathan Shalit OBE, and Ade Shonubi of Chosen Music/FlyStr8; David Bianchi, Hannah Browne, Rebecca Dixon, Joseph Etchells, George Shepherd, and Sheena Welch of Various Artists Management; Neil Hughes and Charlotte Malecki of Tileyard Music; Paul McDonald and Ryan Lofthouse of Closer Artists; Peter Loraine, Adam Klein, and Sarah Jackson of Fascination Management; Sam Eldridge, Roy Eldridge, and Kate Hardwick of UROK Management; Sophie Kennard and Becci Abbott Black of Frame Artists; Tony Beard and Liv Plunket of Tap Music; Trenton Harrison-Lewis, Daniel Tuffin, and Akosua Scantlebury of Ghetts; Twiggy Rowley and Sam Pringle of Project; and Wes Banton of D-Block Europe.
Burna Boy, born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, has benefited from his mother's extensive experience as a language translator and manager. Ogulu's own mother, Benson Idonije, managed the legendary Fela Kuti, creating a lineage of musical and managerial expertise.
Bose Ogulu dedicated 18 years to running a language school while managing Burna Boy's career, notably taking over in 2014 and again from 2017. Her business acumen and belief in Burna Boy's talent have driven his success, earning him awards at the All Africa Music Awards, The Headies, and the MTV Europe Music Awards. Despite these accolades, Ogulu maintains that Burna Boy is "still a work in progress."
Ogulu's ability to balance her roles as a mother and manager is a testament to her unique skill set. She provides unwavering support and guidance, joining a select group of "momagers" like Donda West (Kanye West), Dina Lohan (Lindsay Lohan), and Kris Jenner (Kardashian-Jenner family). Debra Antney, who managed her son Waka Flocka Flame and artists like Nicki Minaj, also exemplifies this role.
Burna Boy's family's success highlights the power of combining talent with familial support. As the music industry watches, anticipation builds for the MusicWeek Awards. Cheers to Bose Ogulu, a trailblazing manager and mother."
