Tay Iwar has quietly become a household name in the Nigerian music scene. If you’re still asking, “Who is Tay Iwar?” like Obongjayar said, this one’s for you.
If you love R&B, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Tay, whether you realized it or not. You’ve heard his voice, felt his production, or vibed to a song he co-wrote. Just as Made in Lagos marked the breaking of a new dawn in Afrofusion, Tay Iwar has been that kind of dawn for the soundscape itself.
Since his GEMINI album, Tay has carved his place in Nigerian R&B and the alternative scene with patience and precision. His artistry thrives on detail: soulful melodies, reflective lyrics, and engineering that leaves no note out of place.
Beyond being a singer, Tay is a sound engineer, someone in tune with the textures that make music feel alive, not just the words alone. That’s why his records sound layered, full, and timeless.
His pen carries the same weight. Tay has mastered how to soundtrack yearning, blending desire with self-worth in a way that feels deeply familiar. He’s arguably the pioneer of what could be called “modern-day yearning” in Nigerian R&B
It’s no surprise, then, that some of Afrobeats’ most defining global moments carry his touch. On Wizkid’s Made in Lagos, he co-wrote True Love, and on the deluxe, Steady. He continued that thread on More Love, Less Ego with Frames (Who’s Gonna Know) and Deep, songs that sit at the very heart of Wizkid’s new sound. His reach grew even wider on Morayo, where he delivered Piece of My Heart with Brent Faiyaz, Après Minuit with Tiakola, and A Million Blessings. Together, these works stand as proof of his quiet but undeniable influence on the sound shaping a generation.
But Tay’s impact goes beyond writing credits. He has been at the core of the Nigerian music shift we’ve witnessed over the past few years. Made in Lagos created the blueprint for mainstream artists to step away from traditional, high-energy Afrobeats and embrace softer, moodier sounds. For those who pay attention, the shift was clear. From Essence to Olamide’s Rock and Billionaires Club, Afrobeats started leaning into intimacy and subtlety. At a time when the world was on pause, the music mirrored that reflection.
Artists like Tay Iwar, Maleek Berry, Nonso Amadi, and Mannywellz had been making soft-spoken, alternative grooves long before. But Made in Lagos, powered by writers and producers like Tay, gave this sound a mainstream stamp of approval. Suddenly, the late-night, soulful Afrofusion vibe wasn’t just niche; it was the global face of the genre.
Tay’s fingerprints extend further still. His collaborations with Omah Lay amplify Omah’s confessional, moody Afrofusion, while his work with Show Dem Camp highlights his versatility, moving from R&B crooning to anchoring rap verses with soulful hooks. In every space, he brings his own texture, reshaping the music without overshadowing it.
That’s the essence of Tay Iwar’s career so far: present in the emotions, the sonics, the melodies that define this era, yet often invisible to the casual ear. His name may not always dominate the headlines, but his influence is written all over the music.
We’ve watched Afrobeats evolve from dancefloor-driven anthems to softer, more reflective sounds. In a world marked by transition; pandemic, shifting realities, changing tastes, that evolution felt inevitable. And Tay Iwar has been one of the quiet revolutionaries guiding that change.
So the next time you find yourself vibing to a record that feels less like a party and more like a late-night confession, remember: Tay Iwar has been planting those seeds for years.
The DIY Collective 
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