Burna Boy’s Mum Reveals the Heavy Price of Managing Her Son
Bose Ogulu, mother and long-time manager of Afro-fusion superstar Burna Boy, has opened up on the emotional and professional weight of managing her son’s booming career while also playing the role of a parent.
Speaking during a recent interview, Mama Burna, as she’s fondly called, explained that she chose to take on both roles out of deep personal sacrifice and necessity, not ambition.
According to her, “I didn’t do it because I wanted to manage an artist. I did it because I didn’t want my son to be mismanaged.” She added that the experience has been both intense and complex, requiring her to constantly navigate the thin line between professionalism and motherhood.
Bose, who has been instrumental in Burna Boy’s international rise, said she has had to apply a strong business sense while also looking out for his wellbeing. “It’s a lot because the same person you’re managing, you care very deeply about,” she noted.
She admitted that the process hasn't been easy, especially when it comes to enforcing discipline. “It’s tough when you have to scold someone and then go and knock on their door to say, ‘Your food is ready,’” she said.
Despite the emotional demands, she remains firmly committed to both roles. For her, each decision made as a manager must also answer to her instincts as a mother. “I am Mum first before anything else,” she stated.
Burna Boy, born Damini Ogulu, has become one of Africa’s most celebrated artists globally, and much of that success has come with the steady guidance of his mother. Her behind-the-scenes role continues to be a powerful force in shaping not just his career but his life.