The Artiste Building a Music Career in Nigeria’s Largest, Often-Forgotten City

In this edition of Portraits of the City, we explore the journey of a young sound engineer contributing to the evolving soundscape of Ibadan, a city many have left behind for the fast-paced allure of Lagos’ music scene. Ibadan, West Africa’s largest city by land mass, is, somewhat puzzlingly, often overlooked in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape. In this conversation, multi-talented artist, producer, and videographer, A Very Fine Boy (AVFB), shares his thoughts on what this city means to him, how it has shaped his path, and what it’s costing him to build a career outside the Lagos bubble.

What do you love about this city?

Ibadan has this calm, soulful energy that inspires me. It’s rich in culture, full of raw stories, and gives me the space to create without pressure. It’s not just a city. It’s a vibe that feeds the art.

What does this city mean to you as a person and as a creative?

Ibadan, to me, is truly the grassroots—my personal modifying space. I’ve experienced and witnessed so much here, accumulating countless stories. From Oluyole to Bodija, Akobo to Alakia, and Apete, these diverse areas have provided experiences that have profoundly shaped who I am and continue to transform me. No matter where I go in the world, I’ll always know I’m a product of Ibadan. 

How has staying in Ibadan, instead of relocating to Lagos, shaped your career?

Staying in Ibadan has truly brought me a lot of peace. We all know of the hustle and bustle of the Lagos lifestyle, and while Ibadan has its rhythm, being West Africa’s largest city comes with unique advantages. For instance, we don’t grapple with the same overpopulation issues or the notorious traffic gridlock. These factors make life here significantly more peaceful and manageable than in Lagos.

From a career perspective, this environment has been invaluable. It’s helped me focus on what truly matters: my craft. Lagos, with its inherent stress and constant distractions, can often pull my focus away, but Ibadan allows me to stay grounded and concentrated.

What challenges have you faced trying to “make it” outside the mainstream music scene?

I won’t call it challenges, I would say it’s a way of life, ’cause you know, things are not handed to you easily, and if everything just comes easy, obviously there won’t be a story to tell. A real challenge creatives like me face here is bringing people together to build a team, because as an artist, you need to have your team. You need to have your people, your circle. If you don’t have your people, that’s one big challenge because you’d be lagging. 

Also, the country and outputs and expectations are of really high standard now, so for me, prioritising music, I spend double of what a random youth living and managing life would, because there are a lot of people you have to pay, not because you want to pay them, but because you have to. The way it is is, if you’re not spending money on your career, you’re stuck. Money runs this industry, and the money flow doesn’t always circulate. Sometimes, I spend and don’t get that investment back. 

How do you find and collaborate with talent in Ibadan and the South-West?

Social media is a great tool for everything. Instagram and TikTok just make things easy, so I just reach out to these artists. I appreciate their craft, and we get talking, share locations, and if we’re close, we could run a feature, and if we are far away from each other, we send data files to make things seamless for everyone, and it’s always mutual collaborations and communication. 

What does success look like to you, and does it include leaving Ibadan?

To me, success is when the random person can understand my craft, can understand what I’m doing, and can connect with my music. That, to me, is success. It doesn’t entail me leaving, or not leaving, Ibadan. At the end of the day, we evolve, and may end up leaving, but even if I leave, it’s not to say I’ll leave and not come back. We’ll all leave and explore the world, but like I said, Ibadan remains the grassroots, the melting pot. 

Do you feel this city supports or stifles creativity?

You know, the adage about your family or community rarely supporting you until you start getting support from the outside… Entertainment-wise, Ibadan is definitely growing. It’s truly evolving into the biggest and largest city in Africa. Although Lagos is truly the epicentre of the entire entertainment scene, Ibadan still offers a viable path for someone like me trying to get my thoughts together, trying to get my eggs together, if you get what I’m trying to say. People here in Ibadan might initially seem stiff, but that’s what social media is for. Eventually, I know people in Ibadan will connect; some already are, but I believe the majority will eventually come to relate to what I’m doing. 

Are there spaces in the city that inspire your music or visuals?

Specific places in Ibadan truly fuel my creativity. Oluyole and Bodija, for instance, deeply resonate with me and directly inspire my music and visuals. As I’ve said, I’ve had so many experiences here, and these particular places hold stories I consistently translate into my art.

What are some of your favourite activities in Ibadan, and some of your favourite spots for these activities?

Yeah, I’m big on vibes. Music, chill spots, and anything that sparks creativity. One of my favourite things is linking up with good energy and soaking in live sounds or fresh scenes. Martha’s in Jericho is one of those spots; it’s classy, the music setup is proper, and you can catch cool live sessions there too.

‎‎Sometimes I just want to breathe and reset, so Agodi Gardens is a solid place to clear my head, write, or even shoot content. The greenery there is a whole vibe. For studio runs or low-key meetups, Ventura Mall or Cafe Chrysalis works. Good space, cool crowd, and you might even bump into creatives vibing.‎

‎And if you’re really about that street flavour, Oritoke Bukateria or Amala Skye are mad for local food, because good food, good mood, you feel me? Ibadan’s got layers; you just need to move with the right compass.

How do you see the city changing, creatively or culturally?

I’m seeing a real cultural and creative shift in Ibadan, especially with the growing recognition and appreciation for creatives. We’re seeing new platforms and spaces emerge – places where you can truly be yourself, like creative studios fully equipped to shoot an entire music video. These spots are already here, and more are on the way. Things are definitely happening, and I’m confident we’ll reach even greater heights in the next few years.

If you could change one thing about the creative ecosystem in the city, what would it be?

Instead of changing things, I’d aim to improve how entertainment is perceived in our city. Given the local culture, people naturally gravitate towards traditional artists and their work. It’s clear that ‘native’ artists receive a lot of support, particularly from the elite, and that’s completely understandable. Still, for contemporary artists like myself, who are passionate about what we do, we’re simply hoping for a bit more support and acknowledgement.

How do you balance your roles as a producer, videographer, and collective leader?

Being a videographer, producer, and artist means my different roles are all intertwined. Honestly, I sometimes wonder how I juggle them, but I do it by setting aside dedicated time for each. I treat videography and producing as my businesses, and my art as my career—it all comes together.

Do you feel pressure to represent the city on a national scale?

I’m not putting pressure, but yeah. I’m representing Ibadan on the national scale. IB to the world, of course, and before me, we’ve had artists representing Ibadan as well. There’s Dremo, we have Taves too, and many others.

What would you say to young people in the city who feel like they need to leave to be seen?

If you feel like you need to leave to be seen, then I’m not sure you’ll even be seen because you don’t actually need to leave to be seen. You just need to be consistent with what you do to be seen, because when you are consistent with what you do, they will see you and they will know you. They will definitely see you. Just keep improving on what you are doing, and stay consistent, and they will see you and appreciate your craft.

Looking back, what has the city taught you about art, hustle, and identity?

Looking back, I’d say Ibadan has profoundly taught me to stay true to myself. It’s helped me modify my heart to align with who I truly am and to be incredibly resilient in my hustle. The city ingrained in me that there’s no turning back—you simply have to keep pushing forward.