Afrobeats singer Burna Boy and his family will be marking the 90th birthday of his grandfather, Benson Idonije, in a celebration scheduled to hold on Sunday in Lagos ahead of the milestone date.
Idonije, a veteran Nigerian music critic and broadcaster, is also the father of Bose Ogulu, who manages Burna Boy.
Born on June 13, 1936, in Otua, Edo State, Idonije began his career in the 1950s and later became a founding broadcaster at Radio Nigeria 2, now Metro FM. He is regarded as one of the early figures who helped shape music journalism in Nigeria, with his jazz focused writings dating back to 1953.
He worked closely with Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti between 1963 and the early 1970s, managing his early band, the Koola Lobitos. His background in jazz and highlife played a role in influencing the early direction of Fela Kuti’s sound before Afrobeat fully emerged.
Idonije documented his experiences with Fela Kuti in his book Dis Fela Sef: The Untold Legends of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. He has also been recognised for his work in journalism, including a Lifetime Award for Journalism Excellence from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
Through his family connection, Idonije has remained close to the Afrobeats movement, with Burna Boy growing up exposed to classic Afrobeat influences. After Burna Boy lost the Grammy award in 2020, Idonije publicly predicted that he would eventually win, a prediction that came true in 2021 when Burna Boy won Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall.
In Lagos, family members and associates are expected to gather to celebrate his 90 years of life and his contributions to Nigerian music broadcasting, journalism, and cultural documentation.
Idonije is widely recognised as one of Nigeria’s earliest dedicated music journalists and radio broadcasters. His early jazz columns helped document the growth of popular music in Nigeria at a formative time. His work at Radio Nigeria contributed to the development of modern music programming in the country, and his long career has positioned him as an important figure in the history of Nigerian media and music criticism.
