The mayor of Newark, the largest city in the US state of New Jersey, has officially proclaimed December 12 as Burna Boy Day.
The declaration was made on Friday, coinciding with the Afrofusion star’s performance at the 18,000-seat Prudential Center in Newark as part of the US leg of his No Sign of Weakness tour.
According to the city’s municipal council, the honour celebrates Burna Boy’s role as a global cultural ambassador whose influence has had a positive impact on communities around the world.
The council noted that the artiste has leveraged his platform to showcase African culture, promote unity, and inspire millions through his music and humanitarian initiatives.
“Whereas, the Newark Municipal Council proudly recognises Burna Boy, an internationally acclaimed artist, cultural ambassador and humanitarian whose work has uplifted communities across the world,” the official document reads.
“Whereas, Burna Boy has used his global platform to celebrate Moran culture, promote unity and inspire millions through music, advocacy and philanthropy.”
Reacting to the honour, Burna Boy expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying the recognition made him feel accepted and at home in New Jersey.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you so much for this. It means the world to me, and I can’t fully express my gratitude right now. It’s always a great honour to be accepted by my people, and it makes me feel at home. Right now, New Jersey is home,” he said.
With this, Newark becomes the second US city to honour Burna Boy with a special day.
In March 2024, Boston officials also declared March 2 as Burna Boy Day, recognising his cultural impact, achievements and global promotion of African music.