Listening to
@Obongjayar feels like a bolt from the blue. His voice: elastic in its register. His sound, a cosmic mix where afrobeat meets baile funk and gospel, where rap collides with experimental electronics and Nigerian folk. Speaking to him is striking in a different way—the London-based artist delivers ruminations with energy and without filter. “Identity is something you discover by creating,” he tells hube. “Creating is a journey of discovery.”
And what a journey it’s been. Obongjayar grew up in Calabar, a port city in southeast Nigeria, before moving to the UK as a teenager. His early work was heavily influenced by American rap, a musical accent that he dropped when he realised that someone else’s voice would never be able to tell his stories. Since then, he has delivered two critically acclaimed albums, collaborated with the likes of
@xdannyxbrownx and
@LitleSimz , and achieved Platinum for “adore u” with
@Fredagainagainagainagainagain .
For Obongjayar, his singular sound comes from a simple idea: “The whole world is in chaos, but there is also beauty,” he says. “It’s about trying to be the voice of beauty, however far that voice reaches.”
Get an exclusive look at our interview with Obongjayar in the SS26 edition. Order now via the link in bio.
Talent:
@obongjayar
Photographer:
@finflint
Stylist:
@gabriella.norberg
Makeup and Hair Artist:
@minnie_mua
Producer:
@angelsworkaccount
Styling Assistant:
@paolobensimon
EIC hube:
@alekskovaleva
Art Direction and Production:
@hube.creators
With special thanks to
@nickdierl , Sofie Araya, and the entire team at
@orienteer
#Obongjayar #hubemagazine
