Ajayi Toluwani John’s EP, Lifestyle (Ìgbésí Ayé Ojoojúmó), Is A Soulful, Peaceful Effort.

By Ayomide Tayo

Last week, I came across an EP that piqued my interest. I overheard a song playing from a loudspeaker at a music gathering, and I had to ask for the title of the record and the EP.

The project, titled Lifestyle (Ìgbésí Ayé Ojoojúmó), by Ajayi Toluwani John, was released on March 14, 2026.

If you think that’s an odd name for a pop artist or a mainstream singer, then you are correct. John is a classically trained musician, and his EP is best described as an African classical piece; classical instruments infused with Yoruba folk tunes, including folk instruments.

This body of work, led by Ajayi Toluwani John’s double bass, takes the listener on a calm, soothing journey where the cacophony of urban life quietly dissolves. The EP was composed as a musical score and recorded accordingly.

Lifestyle (Ìgbésí Ayé Ojoojúmó) begins with ‘Kí ni n ó folè ṣe láyé tí mo wá’, where the composer delivers a broody spectacle as he reinforces a moral lesson of being content with life and not in the pursuit of materialism that leads to a world of crime.

The second song off the EP, ‘We Ki O Mo’, focuses on cleanliness and hygiene. The composer’s use of violins, viola, cello, double bass, horn, woodblock, gong, bass drum, tambourine, piano, bass clarinet and other instruments helps him deliver a noteworthy rendition of this folk classic that remains pertinent in Nigerian society after all these years.

The next song, ‘Iya Ni Wura’, is the song that pulled me to this project. This age-old folk song gets a refreshing update that praises the value of mothers. It has a slowed-down Highlife feel that lets you sway elegantly to this classic folk song.

Rain’s Falling (Òjò N Rò), the project’s final track, ends things wholesomely. The Yoruba children’s folk song, arranged for a Western classical orchestra, explores themes of protection and care.

Lifestyle (Ìgbésí Ayé Ojoojúmó) is an EP curated for children to listen to, enjoy and instil the values in the song. This doesn’t mean adults cannot nourish their souls with these classical African offerings.

If you need a quiet time, then Lifestyle (Ìgbésí Ayé Ojoojúmó) is the soundtrack for you.

Ajayi Toluwani John, who holds certifications in music theory and double bass performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), United Kingdom, has a notable body of work, even though his self-produced EP could have been elevated further by professional recording. This slight flaw does not take away from the EP’s overall quality.

The composer has performed with various orchestras in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom, such as Divine Symphony Orchestra, Le Petit Orchestra Alliance Française de Lagos, Vesta Orchestra and Opera Foundation, Dulcis Orchestra, Love World Orchestra, Chamber Musical Society of Nigeria, Mountaintop Philharmonic Orchestra, and Akojọpọ Music Foundation.

He has also performed at the East London School of Classical Music and is currently a resident bassist of HACS Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ajayi Toluwani John is an active member of the Young Leaders for Arts & Health, an initiative supported by the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship in partnership with the Commonwealth Leadership Institute. As an active member and cohort of the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship, he has used his musical talents to support healing.