Listen to Nigerian Afro-fusion singer Oyedele’s Irawo EP

Produced by Tosin Amire, the six-track collection weaves heartfelt and observant storytelling detailing human experiences through an experimental composite of rap and Nigerian folk sounds.

Sonically, the work strikes a delicate balance between nostalgic folk and contemporary rap, emphasising Oyedele’s talent and potential within his niche.

“‘Irawo’ means star in Yoruba, symbolising the foundation of creation,” Oyedele said. “On this record, I reached for sounds that hark back to the 1970s, reimagining them in a playful yet grounded manner.”

Collaborators on the EP include Tilewa, Eniola Adewale, Joel Prodigee and Kido, and the EP features delicate Afrobeat touches in ‘Da’gboru’, deep soul and jazz influences in ‘Toyin Tomato and ‘Felt’, as well as the standout fusion of jazz-hop in ‘Faramo’. The project’s spoken word piece ‘Father Father, Reprise’ retains a melancholic lullaby-like ambience, complementing its Igbo-choral backup.

Born Peter Oyedele, Oyedele burst onto Nigeria’s music scene professionally in 2017 after dropping his Vinyl Plays EP.

The new collection signifies its author’s musical progression, offering a deep dive into Afro-fusion. Drawing from Yoruba, pidgin, and even snippets of Igbo language, Oyedele creates a cathartic sonic capsule that uplifts moods and delves into themes of love and life.