Steven Umoh grew up in Nigeria and started rapping in his early teens, in the style and accent of his American role models. Emigrating to London, a Nigerian with an American accent, he was a rather odd cookie in the UK music scene. Umoh decided to express himself again with his Nigerian accent, called himself Obongjayar and discovered his singing voice. A rough, soulful voice that transports his political but also spiritual lyrics and makes them somewhat tangible, without diluting the unfamiliar Nigerian English.
Text: Ivo Stritt