Tay Iwar

Originating from Abuja, Nigeria, Tay Iwar honed his abilities on piano during childhood before taking up guitar and later mastering music production entirely on his own computer setup. While still a teenager he began laying down tracks alongside his brothers as part of the band Bantu Collective. His first solo outing, the album Passport, appeared in 2014 when he was sixteen, with the follow-up Renascentia arriving in 2016.

Two additional full-length projects reached listeners in 2019—Gold and Gemini, the latter featuring guest spots from Nigerian alté artists Santi, Preye, and Odunsi the Engine. That same distinctive Afro-fusion sound, rooted in classic Afrobeat, hip-hop, and alternative R&B, drew broader notice when Iwar contributed to Wizkid’s 2020 single “True Love.” He continued his solo trajectory the next year with the Love & Isolation EP.