“Shayo no dey Heaven, so allow me make I chop life,” goes a line in Kowa, encapsulating the song’s hedonism. This call to pleasure and play is set to an equally playful beat bearing the markings of Nigerian street pop. The song even bears the genre’s linguistic character, its lyrics partially delivered in Yoruba. The mood is clearly youth and mirth, a point stressed by the song’s two protagonists, Babby and Nwafrika, or, if you prefer government names, Tobi Ayodeji and Cosmos Chibuzor respectively.
Although they share ownership of the song, they are solo artists rather than a group, their partnership partly a function of their belonging to the same record label, SYB Entertainment. Babby, who is twenty-four, was raised in Ogun State. Whereas Nwafrika, who is twenty-five, enjoyed more geographical variety, living at various points in Abia, Port Harcourt and Benin. Though their origins differ, they have the same final destination in mind—musical fame of great proportions. Perhaps a more profound point of convergence lies in their ethos—they both want to make happy music. “We only do happy music here,” the duo confess in an interview with The Culture Custodian, in which they discuss Kowa, their guiding impulses, their experiences as up-and-coming artists, and the future they imagine for themselves.
How did your music careers take off?
Babby: Until I discovered my real talent, I was a rapper. I entered the studio for the first time around 2016, but it was not professional work, just freestyling. I moved down to Lagos after finishing my SSCE to start hustling.
What challenges have you faced since coming to Lagos? What experiences stand out?
Nwafrika: When I came to Lagos as an upcoming artist, I wasn’t making money from music. We used to go to rap battles, rap competitions and shows. So when people are impressed, they show it either by spraying money or collecting your number to give you extra gigs.
About the challenges, it’s difficult for upcoming artists. If there’s no money to do anything, there’s basically nothing you can do. You can record, but if you cannot put the song out, you don’t get anything in return. Lagos is where the entertainment work resides; there are many competitors here. In fact, Lagos City has more upcoming artists than fans, so you know what that means. Some things around help to motivate and keep you going, though. Music is something you decide to do without expecting a reward next month or soon. It’s something you keep doing until you get to a stable stage.”
And you, Babby?
Babby: My first challenge in my music career was my family. It usually seems like your life has gone awry when you tell your parents you’re going into music. When I told my mom that I wanted to do music, she asked me what I was trying to do because my mates were becoming lawyers. This brought many challenges because I had to sneak out of the house for outings; I got punished when I returned.
Concerning the music scene, it’s not easy for an upcoming artist to prove to the world that they can do it. I used to make appointments with people like producers and photographers, but I used to get turned down. The good thing is I’m conscious of music, so whatever challenges come my way, I will overcome them. The Nigerian music industry has a lot of competition. You have to be creative and hardworking.
Babby, I saw you in a photo doing a Fela fist bump. Was Fela one of your influences?
Babby: Yes. I listen to Baba Fela, although I didn’t grow up with his music. I liked listening to Fela because I realized that Burna Boy and Fela are similar. And Burna Boy is one of my mentors.
Who else influenced you, and why?
Babby: I would say Olamide. His personality, his character, the way he addresses people, and how he does things. He doesn’t talk too much. I love his passion. But when you talk about music performance, I look up to Burna Boy.
What about you, Nwafrika?
Nwafrika: Phyno is my number one role model; I like him a lot. Growing up, I used to be an Igbo rapper, and I listened to people like Nigga Raw before Phyno came in. But you can say Phyno is my mentor. I like Burna Boy, too. In the business industry, I like Tony Elumelu. I like his business perspective and his personality.
How did you guys meet?
Babby: I found him on Instagram in 2019. So I was working with a producer, Daddy P. I told Daddy P. that I wanted to work with Nwafrika since they were also working together. I got to the studio one day, met Nwafrika, and asked if we could collaborate on a song. This meeting marked the beginning of our relationship. I was ecstatic on that day. Our first collaboration was Water No Get Enemy in 2019.
How did Kowa come about?
Nwafrika: There wasn’t a definite plan for making this particular song. The producer was playing while Baby was recording in the studio, and Baby reached a point where he went blank. Then I came into the studio, and we played around the song. Eventually, we recorded the chorus and the verses. When the management heard the song, they liked and approved it. So that’s how the song came about.
How does where you are currently differ from where you were last year, and what are your future plans?
Nwafrika: Last year, we were doing music, dropping songs, making videos, promoting— the way we normally do. But this year, it got professional.
What do you mean by professional?
Nwafrika: I got signed into a label; my label has managed me since then. You know, it’s different when you’re being managed than when you’re on your own. Things have also been very different when it comes to music promotions. The reflection has been better than I expected. I’ve been getting the impression that if I do more, I’ll get better results. Basically, last year was good, but this year has been better, and I know next year will be better too.
Babby, would you like to answer that question?
Babby: I was into music and other jobs last year. It wasn’t easy shuffling. But this year changed many things because I got signed into a label. There’s no way anyone gets signed to a label without seeing changes. I’ve been seeing more engagement in my music and realizing I can do more things. I’m also more confident in my craft.
What’s next for you guys?
Nwafrika: Yes, we have an EP we’re working on. We haven’t decided whether the EP is separate or joint, but we have projects for the first quarter of the year.
What is the overall sense of the EP?
Nwafrika: People already go through a lot. We only do happy music here.