Yinka Olatunbosun
Afrobeats seems to ring familiar with global music fans but when an artist creates his own variant, he may call it Afropop, Afrofusion or Afrobrit. The UK-born Nigerian singer and rapper Equation Billionz is selling his Afrobrit to the world. Recently, he returned to Nigeria for a Friday Live Band Session at the Microbrewer Bature Brewery’s arena in Victoria Island, Lagos to give the Lagos audience a taste of his mid-tempo music. A hybrid of African and British tonality, Equation Billionz music is considered as one of the fastest-growing in the UK with collaborations that feature the likes of Teni Makanaki.
His Lagos performance was savoured by an audience comprising expatriates, youthful fun-seekers and members of the media. Backed by his seven-man live band, he dished out some of his hit singles like Aute, Faaji, Nowadays and the hit song ‘Benz’ that is currently enjoying massive airplay on local radio and TV stations.
Born Afam Efiong Ephraim, his recent visit to Nigeria coincided with the release his debut album. Citing Davido, WizKid and Burna Boy as some of his influences in music, he observed that Nigeria’s music scene is the cynosure of global music.
“I must say that I have similarities when it comes to Afro fusion from the likes of Burna Boy especially,” he said in a brief chat with journalists. “I bring a UK flavour and merge it with the current Afro scene; something I call Afrobrit. I have my own style of singing and my own pattern of melodies. Yes, there are similarities but if you listen closely to my sound you will know it is different.”
Equation Billionz is managed by Quillibrium Entertainment and powered by Inspiro Productions.
