Iyanya Biography
Born on October 31, 1986, Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, better known by his stage name Iyanya, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He became well-known after winning the first season of Project Fame West Africa. His breakthrough studio album, My Story, was released in 2009 and featured the singles “No Time” and “Love Truly.” In 2011, Iyanya and Ubi Franklin co-founded the record label Made Men Music Group.
In February 2013, he released Desire, his second studio album. The singles “Kukere”, “Ur Waist”, “Flavour”, “Sexy Mama”, and “Jombolo” backed it. At the 2013 Headies, he took home the Artist of the Year trophy. Iyanya revealed on Instagram in October 2016 that he had inked a record contract with Mavin Records. He signed a management contract with Temple Management Company a few months earlier. In July 2016, he made his departure from Made Men Music Group known for the first time.
Iyanya Basic Information
| Stage Name: | Iyanya |
| Real Name: | Iyanya Onoyom Mbuka |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | 31 October 1986 (37) Years Old |
| Place of Birth: | Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Education: | University of Calabar |
| Height: | 1.8 m |
| Net Worth: | $5M |
Iyanya Net Worth
Iyanya has contributed significantly to riches via a number of ambassadorial engagements, most notably the MTN deal. According to estimates, he is worth $5 million.
Iyanya Tribe
Iyanya is a member of the tribe Efik. The Efik ethnic group inhabits a large portion of western Cameroon and southern Nigeria. The Efik people are located in the present-day states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom in Nigeria. The Efik language is a subfamily of the Niger-Congo language family, of which they are speakers. The Efik refer to themselves by the names Ifa Ibom, Eburutu, and Iboku.
Iyanya’s Early life and education
In Calabar, Cross River State, on Palm Street, Iyanya was born. His father was a forester, while his mother was a headmistress. According to Iyanya, his father was the more compassionate of the two, and his mother was the one who enforced rules in the home. 2008 saw the deaths of his elder brother and both of his parents. Iyanya’s grandfather was a minister, and at the age of five, she served as the children’s choir director in addition to singing in the chorus at her church.
In Calabar, Mbuk finished his elementary, high, and tertiary education. He is a University of Calabar graduate in business management.
Iyanya Career
He worked in a hotel and performed karaoke at a neighborhood bar he managed after earning his degree from the University of Calabar. Iyanya started honing his singing skills at clubs around town like West-Life, Mirage Nite Club, and Fiesta Fries Bar. American hip-hop artist R. Kelly and British vocalist Craig David were named by Iyanya as two of his main musical influences. Observing the famed lifestyles of 2 Face Idibia and Olu Maintain inspired Iyanya to pursue a career in music. Iyanya began her career as a rapper under the moniker “Lofty.”
MTN Project Fame
Iyanya was persuaded to participate in the inaugural season of Project Fame West Africa in 2008 by KCee from KC Presh. After facing off against a number of opponents who shared his goals, Iyanya went on to win the championship. Iyanya’s singing career began with the 2008 MTN-sponsored Project Fame competition. After a significant competition, many people tend to fade away, but Iyanya’s success was just getting started.
2009: My Story
My Story is Iyanya’s debut album, which he started recording after winning MTN’s Project Fame West Africa. The publisher is CN Media Imprint. The self-titled song “Iyanya” and “Love Truly” in particular demonstrated Iyanya’s flexibility as an R&B singer on the album. Iyanya’s first album didn’t do well commercially because of issues with promotion and distribution.
2012–2013: Desire
Iyanya made the decision to write a song that would help spread awareness of the Calabar-born Etighi dance after visiting his birthplace and witnessing the love the people there had for the dance. He recorded “Kukere” with producer DTunes, a song that became popular all over the world, especially in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK. The second single off the album, “Ur Waist,” which has extra vocals by Emma Nyra, came after the song.
Endorsements
Iyanya became an ambassador for Solo Phones Nigeria, a mobile phone firm based in Computer Village, Ikeja, according to an article published by 360Nobs on October 16, 2013. According to reports, the one-year contract was valued at $220,000 (35 million naira). Iyanya also received a 2014 Toyota Prado as part of the transaction. Iyanya also inked a $300,000 one-year contract with Zinox PCs (Nigeria’s first certified branded PCs) in 2013, according to a story in the Daily Independent newspaper. Iyanya will appear in TV commercials and billboards for Zinox as part of the agreement.
Musical style
Ballads were the first music that Iyanya performed, especially for his first album My Story. During a Ndani TV interview, Toolz expressed his desire to be a multifaceted musician recognized for his R&B and Afrobeats skills. He added in the same interview that he moved from R&B to Afrobeat in order to pursue financial success and show his variety to his audience.
International appearances
Iyanya had a performance at the comedian AY Makun event at the INDIGO2 venue on November 25, 2012. Iyanya was the star of the Iyanya vs. Desire performance, which was held in the UK to promote his second album. It ended in Manchester after beginning in London. On June 9, 2013, the London show took place at the INDIGO2 arena. Emma Nyra and Tonto Dikeh both performed there. The Manchester event began on June 14, 2013, with performances by DRB Lasgidi and Emma Nyra.
Early in 2013, Iyanya embarked on a short tour of the US and Canada with his label partner Emma Nyra. On April 11, 2013, Iyanya gave a performance at the Shrine in Chicago. Additionally, on April 12, 2013, he gave a performance at the African Muzik Magazine premiere in Dallas, Texas. Iyanya performed during the prestigious New York Fashion Week and serenaded Grammy Award candidate Melanie Fiona at the LTB Jean boutique in Soho, New York.
Iyanya Record Label
The Temple Company is a full-service, global creative firm that serves the entertainment, media, film/video production, events, arts, and sports sectors. Its headquarters are located in Lagos, Nigeria. They work with many of Africa’s most famous and innovative people and companies in every new and developing area of entertainment, media, and government, including live entertainment, literature, sports, music, cinema, television, and the fine arts.
Iyanya Personal Life
Information regarding Iyanya’s marriage is scarce. Rumors reportedly circulated that he and Tonto Dikeh were romantically involved.
Iyanya, however, was raised by a foster father who passed away in 2008, the same year as his mother. Later, his grandfather reared him.
Iyanya Family
Parents
Iyanya’s mother worked as a headmistress, and his father was a forester. According to Iyanya, his mother was the strict disciplinarian in the home, while his father was the more compassionate of the two. In 2008, his father, fifty years old, and mother, forty-two, both went away. Their names and other personal information are still hard to come by. The singer had their names tattooed on his arm as a tribute to them.
Siblings
Iyanya did not grow up on his own. Three siblings, including a brother and sister he came to adore, were reared with him. In 2008, around the same time as his parents, his older brother also passed away. Iyanya inked his brother’s name on his skin in the same manner as he respected his parents.
Child
Iyanya has been connected to a number of women over the years, unlike most of his colleagues in the field, but surprisingly, he has never given birth to a kid with any of them.
Girlfriend
The Nigerian singer and socialite Freda Francis, a businesswoman from Nigeria, are said to have dated for a while. Recently, it was made public that the two were spotted together during Lilian Esoro’s introduction. The musician Iyanya then tweeted a picture of the pair. Other stories claim that she is three years older than Iyanya. Freda Francis-Edewor, a medical aesthetician from Edo State, is the CEO and founder of Oasis Med Spa, one of the first medical spas in Nigeria.
Iyanya Cars
Iyanya likes expensive cars and shows off his four wheels on social media. He agrees with the proverb “Show off what you got.” Among the Nigerian performers with the greatest number of cars is Iyanya. In 2013, Iyanya treated himself to four (4) reliable and fashionable vehicles, which included the following: Two BMW X-6, one Mercedes Benz 2013 E-350, one Bentley Continental GT, two Range Rover Evoque sports utility vehicles, each costing 13 million Naira (a total of 26 million Naira), one Black Land Cruiser Prado SUV, one Black Land Cruiser Prado SUV, one 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish, and one Black Land Cruiser Prado SUV, each costing 16.5 million Naira (a total of 21 million Naira). The total cost of Iyanya’s cars is an astounding 116.5 million Naira.
Iyanya House
Iyanya is a flavorful man; according to a source, he spent over 150 million Naira on a duplex.
Iyanya’s Social Media Handle
Instagram: iyanya
Twitter: @iyanya
Iyanya On TikTok
Iyanya Awards and Nominations
- Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) nominated him as the Best Contemporary Afro (Live Beats choice) – 2012
- The Headies Award for Best Pop Single – 2012
- Song of the Year nominee at the Headies – 2012
- Soul Train Music Awards nominee for Best International Performance – 2013
- Channel O Music Video Awards nominee for the Most Gifted Male Video – 2013
- Nigeria Entertainment Awards nominee for Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year – 2013
- Hottest Single of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards – 2013
- Ghana Music Awards nominee for African Artiste of the Year – 2013
- City People Entertainment Awards nominee for Musician of the Year (Male) – 2013
- Most Popular Song of the Year at the City People Entertainment Awards – 2013
- Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) nominee for Best High Life Video – 2013
- Nominated for Best Use of Choreography at the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA)–2013
- Best Use of Visual Effects nominee at the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) – 2013
- The Headies Award for Artist of the Year – 2013
- Best R&B/Pop Album nominee at the Headies – 2013
- Album of the Year nominee at the Headies – 2013
- Best Pop Single nominee at the Headies – 2013
- Song of the Year nominee at The Headies – 2013
- The World Music Awards nominee for the World’s Best Song – 2014
- Nominated Le Kwa Ukwu for the World’s Best Video at the World Music Awards – 2014
- Iyanya was nominated for the World’s Best Male Artist at the World Music Awards – 2014.
- The World’s Best Live Act nominee at the World Music Awards – 2014
- Nominated as the World’s Best Entertainer of the Year at the World Music Awards—2014
- City People Entertainment Awards nominated Iyanya for the Musician of the Year (Male) – 2014
- African Muzik Magazine Awards nominee for Best Male West Africa – 2014
- Best Dance in a Video at the African Muzik Magazine Awards 2014
Iyanya Discography
Three studio albums, twenty-two singles (ten as featured artists), five promotional singles, and fourteen music videos make up Iyanya’s discography.
Albums
- My Story – 2009
- Desire – 2013
- Applaudise – 2015
Songs
Iyanya has over the years released several songs, which tops from R&B to Afropop. The dome of his songs is below;
Iyanya – One Side (Official Music Video)
- Love Truly – 2009
- No Time (featuring Faze) – 2009
- Iyanya (My Story) – 2010
- Kukere – 2011
- Ur Waist (featuring Emma Nyra) – 2012
- Kukere Remix (featuring D’banj) – 2012
- Flavour – 2012
- Sexy Mama (featuring Wizkid) – 2013
- Jombolo (featuring Flavour N’abania) – 2013
- Head Swell – 2013
- She Can Get It – 2013
- Le Kwa Ukwu – 2013
- Story Story (featuring Oritse Femi) – 2014
- Mr Oreo – 2014
- Ijeoma – 2014
Who Is Iyanya?
Iyanya’s physical appearance and skillful dancing during concerts and music videos have earned him the reputation of being a well-muscled Nigerian music star. He hasn’t been heard from much in the music industry since he worked with Ayra Starr. We hope to hear from him more and wish him success.
Which tribe is Iyanya?
Iyanya hails from the tribe of Efik.
Is Iyanya still in Mavin Records?
No, he is not a member of the Mavin Dynasty anymore.
How rich is Iyanya?
Iyanya reportedly has a $5 million net worth.
Where is Iyanya from?
In Calabar, Cross River State, on Palm Street, Iyanya was born.
Which label is Iyanya signed to?
Iyanya stated in an interview that he is signed to Temple Music. When he left Mavin Records, he joined Temple Music.
What is the meaning of Iyanya?
Online research indicates that Iyanya means “rich in wealth or cheerful heart.”
When did Iyanya win project fame?
Iyanya’s major break came in 2008 when she competed in and won the inaugural season of Project Fame West Africa.
Is Iyanya still singing?
Iyanya is still waxing strong in music, creating fresh, fascinating compositions.
