Nigerian Afrofusion superstar Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has introduced a new alias—Jean Béna Dieudonné—following his recent collaboration with French-Haitian singer Joé Dwèt Filé.
The Grammy-winning artist announced the new name on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday. This comes after he featured on the remix of Joé Dwèt Filé’s hit song 4 Kampé, where Burna Boy delivered some of his verses in French. The collaboration highlights his growing global appeal, particularly in the French-speaking world.
Burna Boy has a history of adopting new nicknames, often reflecting different phases of his career or artistic reinvention. Some of his previous aliases include:
Odogwu – A title meaning “Great One” in Igbo, which he embraced after gaining dominance in the Nigerian music scene.
African Giant – The name of his 2019 Grammy-nominated album, which symbolized his ambition to represent Africa on the global stage.
Big 7 – A reference to his status as one of the biggest Afrobeats artists globally.
El Major – Another alias he adopted, further emphasizing his versatility and international reach.
Burna Boy is one of the most successful Nigerian artists internationally. He has won multiple awards, including: Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album (2021) for Twice As Tall. Several BET Awards for Best International Act. MOBO Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards nominations.
He has also performed at some of the biggest stages worldwide, including Coachella, Madison Square Garden, and the UEFA Champions League final.
His willingness to explore different musical influences, including singing in French, Spanish, and Yoruba, continues to set him apart.
While Burna Boy hasn’t explicitly explained the meaning behind his new nickname, it has a distinctly French and spiritual tone.
Jean is the French equivalent of “John”, while Béna could be derived from “Bénédiction,” meaning “blessing” in French, then Dieudonné means “God-given.”
