Joeboy

Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus, better known by his stage name Joeboy, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter renowned for his contributions to Afrobeats and contemporary R&B. Born on May 21, 1997, in Lagos, Nigeria, Joeboy initially gained attention in 2017 with a viral cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” which marked his transition from rapping to singing. This move was inspired by a close friend and caught the ear of Nigerian artist and entrepreneur Mr. Eazi, who soon became a mentor.

In 2018, Joeboy released “Fààjí,” featuring Mr. Eazi, after receiving a grant from the emPawa Africa initiative. His breakthrough came in early 2019 with the release of “Baby,” a song he wrote and recorded in just 45 minutes. The track quickly garnered millions of streams on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. Building on this momentum, Joeboy released “Beginning” later that year, which also saw massive success. These hits, along with “Don’t Call Me” featuring Mayorkun and “All for You,” were part of his debut EP Love & Light in November 2019.

Joeboy’s accolades include winning Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. His debut album Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic was released in early 2021. Following that, his second album Body & Soul dropped in May 2023, featuring the popular singles “Sip (Alcohol)” and “Contour.” Joeboy launched his own record label, Young Legend, in February 2024, continuing to rise as a global music sensation.