Joseph Akinfenwa Donus, popularly known as Joeboy, stands as one of Nigeria’s emerging musical talents, making waves in the Afrobeat and R&B genres.
Let’s delve into the life of this 26-year-old singer and songwriter, exploring his background, career milestones, and the mark he’s making in the music industry.
Early Life and Education
Joeboy was born on May 21, 1997, into a Yoruba family in Lagos State, Nigeria. Raised in the vibrant Yoruba culture, he completed his secondary education in Lagos before earning a degree in Human Resources from the University of Lagos.
His musical journey began at an early age, influenced by his father’s piano playing in church and his brother’s role in the church choir.
Career
At the age of 16, Joeboy started his musical journey, releasing his first Afrobeat track, “Gbeseyin,” at the age of 17. His talent didn’t go unnoticed as he gained recognition for his short music covers shared on social media platforms.
In a twist of fate, Joeboy’s life took a significant turn three years ago when he covered Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” This cover caught the attention of Mr. Eazi, the founder of “emPawa Africa,” an initiative dedicated to discovering and nurturing musical talents across the continent.
Joeboy became one of the first 100 recipients to receive funding, using it to create the music video for “Faaji.” Further success followed as he attended a mentorship boot camp in South Africa and received additional funding of $50,000.
March 2019 marked a pivotal moment in Joeboy’s career with the release of his single “Baby.” This love song soared to the top 10 on Apple Music charts in Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya.
Subsequent releases like “Beginning” featuring Beats 1’s host, Ebro Darden, solidified his position, securing the number one spot on Apple’s Music charts in Nigeria and Uganda.
Building on his successes, Joeboy released the album “Love & Light” on November 8, 2019. The album, under the exclusive license to emPawa Africa Limited, features hit tracks like “Baby,” “Beginning,” “Don’t Call Me Back,” “All For You,” and “Blessings.”
Awards and Recognition
Joeboy has been nominated for various categories at The Headies Awards in 2019, including “Best Pop Single,” “Song of The Year,” “Viewers Choice,” and “Next Rated Artiste.”
He, however, won the “Best Pop” award at the Soundcity MVP Awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the music scene.
Net Worth
Currently, Joeboy’s net worth stands at an estimated $100,000, a testament to his rapid ascent in the music industry.