Entertainment
I’m set for world —Sean Dampte
Sean Dampte is a fast rising artiste who says he is taking over with his music. He spoke to ROTIMI IGE about his plans for world domination.
Background
I am Oluyole Oluwaseun, formerly known as Dampte, but now Sean Dampte. Most people still call me Dampte. My secondary education was in Lagos. As God would have it, I have a master’s degree in Business Administration from a university in the United Kingdom and my Bachelors of Science degree from an American university. Like most people, my growing up was not all rosy. I can say that my parents tried to make sure we children never lacked.
You were in the Nigerian music industry and now you are an entertainer in the UK. In what ways are both similar and different?
Yes, you can say that definitely. There are glaring similarities and differences, but at the end of the day we all trying to bring out the best of Afrobeats. Production wise, the sounds around here are quite different but still borrow most of the African bass drums and melodies to make the something unique. So, for me, the similarities and differences are inter-woven along the line.
You recorded some success in Nigeria. Which song put the spotlight on you and how did you get inspiration for the song?
Yes. A couple of tracks in some months (like Alignment featuring Rayce and No) have brought attention. The inspiration normally builds from my environment. For the track ‘Alignment’, for instance, I draw comparisons between an exotic car and a beautiful lady.
How do you come up with your lyrics and beats?
It depends, really. Sometimes the beats or sound drives the track and other times it is the lyrics first. You try to get a melody that works and from there, you begin to build.
In Nigeria and abroad, who are those you have had to collaborate with?
I have worked with the likes of Goldhands in the US, Delirious and some many others in the UK. In Nigeria, I have had sounds from DXL, Fliptyce, Jomane and Joey Benks amongst others.
Your new single, ‘Million’, just dropped. Tell us about it.
Well, I hope people love it. That is all I expect, to be honest.
What happens if it doesn’t go the way you hope?
(Laughs) It will go the way I hope because my expectations are already in motion.
How was life for you in Lagos?
Lagos is and will always remain home. My family lives there, the same thing with friends and a lot of people who appreciate me as a person and the music I do. I come to Lagos at every opportunity.
Why did you leave Nigeria for England?
It was a difficult choice I had to make, but it was something that I felt strongly I had to do then and I did. It was not my first time living outside the country and so when I felt it was time to move again, I had to do it.
What do you think is responsible for the positive response that Nigerian music, especially Afrobeat, is garnering worldwide?
I believe our music expresses the mindset of the people. Nigerians are generally happy people and so our kind of music is that which brings you that happy feeling. Like Plato said, society changes when music changes. So I am guessing happy music, happy audience. Afrobeat to the world!
Do you really think Wizkid and others are truly making Afrobeat productions?
(Laughs) I believe Wizkid and the others are doing a great job at promoting our brand of music and culture.
Which musician(s) do you anticipate working with in Nigeria and beyond? And why these people?
In all honesty, there is no one artiste on my mind. I keep working as hard as I can and if the opportunity comes for more collaboration, then my team and I would have to consider.
Do you have plans to release an album anytime soon?
Who knows? Right now, I love the attention and the short span. Producing an album is something the team and I may have to consider.
What can bring you to Nigeria at this stage of your career?
Generally, I believe my sound is differently unique in the way I deliver my tracks and also the genuineness of which I am is what I try to put out there for everyone to see. So “If I say that I love you, no be joke.”
Popular Nigerian singer, Adekunle Kosoko, better known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simisola Kosoko, also known as Simi, have welcomed a set of twin babies.
The singer announced the good news via his Snapchat story on Wednesday.
“Asked God for another child and He blessed me double,” Simi wrote.
Although the gender of the babies has not been disclosed, the announcement has since attracted congratulatory messages from fans, colleagues and well-wishers across the entertainment industry.
The development comes months after Simi had hinted at her pregnancy. In December, she shared a video on Instagram, captioned, “From my baby, for my babies,” with the clip showing her baby bump.
The arrival of the twins also comes weeks after Simi featured in a snippet from Adekunle Gold’s recently released music video titled My Love Is the Same.
Adekunle Gold and Simi got married in 2019 after years of friendship and musical collaboration. Both artistes were formerly signed to X3M Music early in their careers and have since remained one of Nigeria’s most celebrated celebrity couples.
The couple welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.
Renowned Tungba gospel musician, Dr Yinka Ayefele, has released a new studio album titled Reflections, adding another chapter to his long-standing influence in Nigeria’s gospel music scene.
The album, which was released on Monday, December 22, 2025, blends introspection with praise, as Ayefele reflects on life, faith and gratitude to God, drawing from personal experiences marked by trials, near-tragedies and triumphs.
Announcing the release in a statement, the Group Head of Corporate Affairs, Fresh Nigeria and Yinka Ayefele Limited, Samson Akindele, said the album captures the musician’s deep reflections on life and his renewed commitment to thanksgiving and praise through music.
Musically, Reflections is rooted in Ayefele’s signature Tungba style, featuring energetic drum percussions, rich string arrangements and call-and-response patterns, supported by harmonious backup vocals from the Merry Makers Band.
The album also incorporates diverse elements, including Tungba hymnals and an Arabic praise chant rendered by a budding female talent, Harike Jesu, who additionally delivers a danceable Fuji-inspired track.
According to details of the project, the opening track focuses on Ayefele’s life journey and lessons drawn from past experiences, while subsequent tracks express appreciation to fans and sustain a flow of upbeat, dance-friendly rhythms.
Reflections is available on major digital streaming and download platforms, including Spotify, Boomplay, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Audiomack, YouTube Music, Deezer and Tidal.
The compact disc version is expected to be released in the coming days under the Yinka Ayefele Music label.
Jamaican reggae icon, Jimmy Cliff, is dead. He died on Monday at the age of 81.
His wife, Latifa Chambers, announced the singer’s passing in a statement posted on his official Instagram page.
Chambers said Cliff “crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” describing the loss as “profoundly saddening.”
She wrote, “I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists, and coworkers who have shared his journey with him. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career.”
Cliff, revered as one of reggae’s defining figures and widely regarded as the genre’s most influential artiste after the late Bob Marley, enjoyed a stellar career that spanned more than four decades.
A multi-instrumentalist known for classics such as You Can Get It If You Really Want and The Harder They Come, Cliff blended reggae with folk, soul, ska and rock. His music frequently tackled themes of politics, poverty, injustice and social resistance.
He shot to global prominence following the release of the 1972 film The Harder They Come, in which he starred. The movie, partly inspired by his tough upbringing, played a pivotal role in pushing Jamaican reggae onto the world stage.
Reacting to his death, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, described Cliff as “a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world.”
“His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today,” Holness said.
“Walk good, Jimmy Cliff. Your legacy lives on in every corner of our island and in the hearts of the Jamaican people,” he added.
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