Nigerian businesswoman, Bose Ogulu, alias Mama Burna, has shared some memories of how her son's talent was nurtured from his early age.

Ms Ogulu is the mother and manager of Nigerian AfroFusion superstar Burna Boy. 

"I think I have known since he was probably 13 or 14 that he was going to be great at something, and that thing was probably music," 55-year-old said.

She said she had already seen her son in the studio, "and watched him form a band from when he was in JS3 which, I think should be year 9".

Mama Burna spoke about cutting a deal with her son to help him juggle education and music.

"We started trading studio time for grades, when I would say if you make a B or an A in this, I'll pay for studio during your mid-term [break]," she explained. 

Mama Burna noted that this style of parenting was quite different because typical African parenting means to ensure your child "goes to school, and gets a degree, just because you're convincing yourself they need a safety net or your ticking the boxes".

She revealed before becoming Burna Boy's manager, which earned her the nickname Mama Burna, she was a trained and practising translator and interpretor, her purview being "most of West Africa".

Peeling back more layers, she stated: "I ran a language school for 18 years," and in this period "quickly understood the power of languages and the power of culture - the only thing like it is, perhaps, the power of music."

Bose Ogulu's father was, in her own words, "a wordsmith" who made it a point to have his children educated "on who they were" and also "brought in the music".

She confirmed Burna Boy's matrilineal grandfather, Benson Idonjie, indeed "managed Fela [Kuti] and set up Fela's first band" the Highlife Rakers. 

A multitalented man, he also "worked on radio and started various radio programmes".

Madam Bose Ogulu was recently lifted the History Maker award at the Best of Africa Awards 2023.

The accolade "was a complete surprise but I'm honoured" the shyly remarked to the BBC's Nyasha Michelle.

She added that her Grammy-winning son "is still a work in progress" because "there are many more milestones to attain".

She stressed there is no need to rely on distant or recent past glory but rather "keep doing more. If we're doing four stadiums, let's do ten. There's always a higher level to get to and that should be our focus".