Ify Iwobi Returns to Her Roots with New Album, ‘The Afropop Series’

For years, Ify Iwobi has built a reputation as one of Wales’ most versatile musical talents. A pianist, composer, producer, musical director and BBC A-List artist, she has built a career that moves seamlessly across genres, orchestras and stages. But with her latest project, The Afropop Series, she embarks on perhaps her most personal journey yet, one that reconnects her with her Nigerian heritage while embracing the global sound of contemporary African music.

“It feels magical to finally share The Afropop Series with audiences around the world,” she says. “As a proud Welsh-Nigerian pianist, composer, producer, musical director and BBC A-List artist, I wanted this project to be a celebration of my culture, heritage and identity.”

While much of her previous work explored a variety of musical styles, this EP represents a deliberate return to her African roots. Inspired by artists including Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid, Ify immersed herself in the rhythms and structures that have helped shape modern Afropop while infusing them with her own musical language.

For her, the project is ultimately about pride, being proud of where you come from, embracing culture and traditions, and remaining authentically yourself.

The title itself hints at something much bigger than a single release. Rather than being a standalone project, The Afropop Series marks what she calls “the first chapter of many more ideas, melodies and concepts still waiting to be explored.” She sees it as a cultural landmark in her musical journey and even hints that audiences may eventually experience The Afropop Series: Part II and beyond.

To Ify, Afropop is more than a genre. It is “a celebration of African creativity, rhythm and culture,” and the EP serves as the culmination of musical ideas that have lived in her mind for years before finally being brought to life.

Artists such as Asake and Flavour heavily influenced the project, particularly their ability to fuse traditional African elements with contemporary production. Ify has long admired the energy of African percussion and the way it complements modern instrumentation.

Yet perhaps the most significant influence came from a deeply personal experience, her visit to Nigeria in 2018.

Being in Nigeria gave her an overwhelming sense of belonging and connection, an experience that would later shape the emotional core of the EP.

“Creating this record felt like revisiting my roots and paying tribute to the culture, traditions and experiences that have shaped me.”

As someone who wears many creative hats, Ify’s approach to making music is remarkably holistic.

As a pianist and composer, she develops the melodies and musical ideas. As a producer, she constructs the beats, sonic textures and arrangements that define each track. Meanwhile, her experience as a musical director allows her to oversee the broader artistic vision of the project.

Interestingly, every song begins in the same place, the piano.

She spends hours improvising melodies and recording ideas on her iPhone, building a library of voice notes that has grown over the years. Once inspiration strikes, she begins hearing the arrangement and instrumentation in her mind before carefully constructing each production from scratch.

Since she does not sing herself, she made the artistic decision to collaborate with featured electronic vocalists whose voices complement each composition.

The result is a six-track EP that offers listeners what she describes as “a glimpse into what goes on inside my musical mind.”

Despite the technical complexity of the music, the creative process itself remains surprisingly simple. “For me, everything starts with the piano. Melody is always the foundation.”

From there, arrangements, beats and production naturally evolve around the original musical idea, with each composition taking its own unique path while remaining rooted in melody. The entire project carries emotional significance because every song reflects her identity and connection to her heritage.

Rather than highlighting one particularly challenging record when asked, Ify explains that the EP as a whole became an exercise in balancing contemporary Afropop sounds, African influences and the symphonic elements that reflect her background as a composer.

Finding harmony between those worlds became one of the project’s greatest creative achievements. That ability to merge technical music with accessible contemporary sounds has become one of Ify’s defining characteristics.

Regardless of genre, whether Afropop, jazz, rock or orchestral music, her goal remains constant: to create authentic music that resonates emotionally with listeners and leaves a lasting impression.

“If a piece of music can touch someone’s heart and stay with them long after they’ve heard it, then I have achieved what I set out to do.”

Although her career has earned significant recognition, including becoming the first Welsh-Nigerian artist to achieve ten consecutive tracks on the BBC A-List, The Afropop Series represents a different kind of milestone.

Much of her earlier catalogue reflected her British influences, but this project places her Nigerian roots firmly at the centre of the creative process, she strongly believes the EP captures the full scope of her musical identity while demonstrating her willingness to evolve and continue pushing creative boundaries.

For listeners, she hopes the experience is more than simply hearing six songs. Instead, she wants audiences to embark on a journey through themes of romance, affirmation, hope, joy and cultural pride.

“My hope is that The Afropop Series speaks to the soul and leaves listeners feeling energised and empowered.”

As African music continues its remarkable influence on global culture, Ify sees her own work as an authentic contribution to that evolution. Her music brings together African sounds and contemporary production, but at the same time, she refuses to be limited by genre.

Versatility, she believes, is a core part of her identity as an artist, and she enjoys surprising audiences by exploring different musical scenes.

Looking back on her career, several moments stand out as highlights, Becoming the first Welsh-Nigerian artist with ten consecutive BBC A-List tracks remains a defining achievement, alongside performing four original compositions with the Royal Air Force Orchestra.

Supporting Elvis Costello on his UK tour as the sole Welsh act and stepping in for Flavour and Phyno at the Black Welsh Music Awards are also experiences that helped shape her art.

Each opportunity challenged her, expanded her horizons and strengthened her confidence.

For young African and diasporan musicians following similar paths, her advice is refreshingly straightforward: “Just Be authentically yourself.”

She encourages emerging artists to study those who inspire them while creating music that reflects their own stories and experiences, never being afraid to combine genres or experiment creatively.

Above all, she believes that trusting one’s instincts is what allows artists to make the greatest impact.

With The Afropop Series now released, Ify shows no signs of slowing down.

She hints that a fourth album may already be on the horizon while preparing for performances across Wales, London and beyond.

Alongside her own music career, she continues to champion emerging talent through the Black Welsh Music Awards, an initiative she founded to platform, promote, elevate and celebrate Black talent from Wales. Inspired by the MOBO Awards, the next ceremony is scheduled for 2027.

Asked to describe The Afropop Series in just three words, her answer comes quickly:

“Groundbreaking. Innovative. Captivating.”

Read more Music stories from KLATMAG

Listen to Ify Iwobi’s New Album, The Afropop Series

Written by Angel Joanne Okonkwo