View source for Toby Foyeh

{{BaseArticle
 | shortdesc = British-Nigerian musician and guitarist
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Toby Foyeh
| image             =
| image_size        = 
| alt               = 
| caption           = 
| birth_name        = Tokunbo Olowofoyeku
| alias             = 
| birth_place       = London, England
| birth_date        = <!--{{birth year and age|1952|02}}-->
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|guitarist|producer}}
| website           = {{url|http://tobyfoyeh.com}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|talking drums|keyboards|flute}}
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Yoruba music|Yoruba traditional]]|[[Jam band|Africa jam]]|[[Afro beat]]|[[highlife]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[Rock music|rock]]|[[funk]]|[[jazz]]}}
| years_active      = 1981–present
| label             = {{hlist| Taretone Records|Space Station Records|Kameleon and Kameleon Africa Records|Toby Foyeh Soundwave Records}}
}}

'''Tokunbo Olowofoyeku''' ({{langx|yo|Tòkunbọ̀ Olówòfóyèkù}}, {{IPA|yo|tòkũ̄bɔ̀ ōlówòfójèkù|pron}}<!--; born February 1952-->), professionally known as '''Toby Foyeh''', is a [[British Nigerians|British-Nigerian]] musician.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chacona |first=John |title=Toby Foyeh to tune in cultural connection at Behrend |url=https://www.goerie.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/02/12/toby-foyeh-to-tune-in/1709589007/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |date=2020-02-12 |website=[[Erie Times-News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Born in [[London]], England, to Nigerian parents, he is currently based in the [[Washington, D.C.]] area of the US. Although essentially [[self-taught]], he studied music at [[Berklee College of Music]] and [[Howard University]],<ref name="RiverfrontTimes21486929">{{cite web
| url = https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/toby-foyeh-and-orchestra-africa/Event?oid=21486929
| title = Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref> where he also earned a degree in Film Directing.

Foyeh's albums are ''Here I Come'' in Nigeria, ''Jalolo'' (1999/2001), ''Lagos Ilu Eko'' (2006) released in the US, Canada, and Europe, and ''Pirates of Africa'' (2019). The debut album ''Here I Come'' produced the [[Single (music)|single]]s "Ore mi" and "I'm on Fire". "Jalolo" and "Rain Dance" are key tracks from ''Jalolo'' and ''Lagos Ilu Eko''. ''African Festival'' was released in September 2021. A future CD/Vinyl album 'The Land of Spirits' is scheduled for release in 2025.<ref name="Official">{{cite web
| url = http://tobyfoyeh.com
| title = Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Mark |date=2000-01-21 |title=TOBY FOYEH & |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/01/21/toby-foyeh-38/5725f850-45d5-443b-ae24-4d630a4bed80/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

Foyeh has performed extensively on [[Nigerian Television Authority|Nigerian Television]] and his music videos have been played for many years.<ref name="WashPost20000121">{{cite news
| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/01/21/toby-foyeh-38/5725f850-45d5-443b-ae24-4d630a4bed80/?noredirect=on
| title = Toby Foyeh
| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref> With his band, Orchestra Africa, he has performed in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Canada, Caribbean, Japan and Africa.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.tobyfoyeh.com/news/toronto-jazz-review/
| title = Toronto Jazz Review
| date = May 14, 2016
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref><ref name="YouTubeFuji">{{cite web
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2M4wEAB51E
| title = Toby Foyeh in Japan - Fuji Rock Festival
| website = [[YouTube]]
| date = February 18, 2018
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref><ref name="WashPost20000121" /><ref name="Vortex">{{cite web
| url = http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/event/toby-foyeh-2/
| title = Toby Foyeh, Vortex Jazz Club
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref> He is uncle to Kwame Jackson, the [[runner-up]] in [[NBC]]'s 2004 ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 1)|The Apprentice]]''.

==Early life and education==

Foyeh was born in London, England, grew up mainly in [[Western State (Nigeria)|Western Nigeria]] before progressing to embark on university education at [[Berklee College of Music]] and [[Howard University]] in the USA. He is the fifth child of Chief [[Babatunji Olowofoyeku]], a Nigerian politician and the former Attorney General of the Western Region in [[Nigerian First Republic|Nigeria's First Republic]] (1960–1966). From the age of 5, he attended Children's Home School, [[Ibadan]] and then transferred to Abadina School ([[University of Ibadan]]) and finished his primary education at St Johns School, Iloro, [[Ilesa|Ilesha]].<ref name="Clafin">{{cite web
| url = http://http.www.claflin.edu/news-events/news/2014/09/29/claflin-university-kicks-off-lyceum-series-with-toby-foyeh-orchestra-and-dancers-on-oct.-2
| title = Claflin University Kicks Off Lyceum Series with Toby Foyeh Orchestra and Dancers
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref><ref name="WashPost20000121" />

From St Johns School, Foyeh was admitted to [[King's College, Lagos]], Nigeria. He then attended [[International School Ibadan]] in Nigeria. Upon completion of his high school education, he relocated to the US and attended [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston Massachusetts|Boston, Massachusetts]] and [[Howard University]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="RiverfrontTimes21486929" />

==Career==
Toby started playing music at an early age in Nigeria, with school bands at King's College, Lagos and International School Ibadan, as well as while studying in the United States. According to Nigerian custom and parental expectation, he was supposed to have become an engineer, a doctor or enter into the legal profession in the footsteps of his father, Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku. Instead, he chose music. Foyeh was interested in modernising Nigerian and African music, and he sought to create a flux and synthesis between the two. A band he formed with some high school friends went on to tour America as [[Hugh Masekela| Hugh Masekela's]] Ojah Band.<ref name="Clafin" />

He has produced, recorded and co-produced for other artists with varying musical styles including African, Jazz and Soul. One such project was with keyboard player Roy Carter (ex-[[Heatwave (band)]]) produced a dance hit for UK group Covergirl, while other musical collaborations include projects with Jake Sollo (ex-[[Osibisa]]), Saul Malinga ([[Ipi Tombi]] South African Music and Dance Troupe) and [[Orlando Julius Ekemode]].<ref name="Official" />

==Musical style and influences==

Foyeh's early influences from West Africa include Haruna Ishola, Victor Uwaifo and [[Fela Kuti]]. His influences from the USA include the likes of [[Miles Davis]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Carlos Santana]] and [[George Benson]]. The music genres and styles that feature is his music are [[Yoruba music|Yoruba Traditional]], [[Jam band|Africa Jam]], [[Afro Beat]], [[Highlife]], [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Rock music|Rock]], [[Funk]], and [[Jazz]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xzkuAQAAIAAJ&q=TOBY+FOYEH
| title = West Africa Magazine 1992
| year = 1992
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref><ref name="WashPost20000121" /><ref name="Vortex" /><ref name="RiverfrontTimes21486929" />

==Awards and achievements==

*Scholarship award for the BA (final year) at [[Howard University]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
*Scholarship award for two years at [[International School Ibadan]], Nigeria<ref name="WashPost20000121" /><ref name="RiverfrontTimes21486929" /><ref name="Clafin" /> 
*International World Music Award, Boston for his contribution to Music and the Arts worldwide, April 2000
*Ore Mi The song Ore mi is now the artist's most successful single since its release on the 'Here I Come' debut album.

==Discography==

Toby has released a range of CDs, [[Twelve-inch single|12-inch vinyl singles]] and albums over a period of almost forty years.<ref name="Official" />

* ''Here I Come'' (1981)
* "Danger Zone" (with Andy Sodjka) (1984)
* "I'm a winner (Covergirl)" (1985)
* "Stay With Me (Covergirl)" (1986)
* "Hollywood City" (1986)
* ''Jalolo'' (UK) (1991)
* ''Jalolo'' (USA) (1999)
* ''Ilu Eko'' (Lagos) (2006)
* "Ore Mi" (single, 2017)
* 'Pirates of Africa' (2019)
* 'African Festival (2021)

Labels: Taretone Records, Space Station Records, Kameleon and Kameleon Africa Records, Toby Foyeh Soundway Records

==Tours==

Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa have performed at many US universities<ref>{{cite news|url=https://issuu.com/theeastcarolinian/docs/ecu_02_3a02|title=Black History Month Opening Celebration|publisher=[[The East Carolinian]] via Issuu|date=2 February 2016|page=A6}}</ref> as well as [[performing arts center]]s including [[Kennedy Center]] and [[Cerritos Center]], [[Cerritos, California]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.kennedy-center.org/artist/B10232
| title = Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ocregister.com/2005/10/07/ten-days-out-2/
| title = Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa
| date = October 7, 2005
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref> Also the UK-based [[saxophonist]] and keyboard player Tunday Akintan has toured with Foyeh's band and the US-based TolumiDE sings as a backup vocalist and opening act for the band 

The band has been on tour internationally and performed in many International Jazz Festivals such as [[Malta Jazz Festival]], [[Toronto Jazz Festival]] (thrice),<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.tobyfoyeh.com/news/toronto-jazz-review/
| title = Toronto Jazz Festival
| work = News and Reviews
| date = May 14, 2016
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref> [[Montreal International Jazz Festival]], Vancouver Jazz Festival, Calgary Jazz Festival, Medicine Hat Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Syracuse Jazz Festival, Washington DC Jazz Festival, Bahamas Jazz Festival, Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Grenada Spice Jazz Festival, Curaçao Jazz Festival and Fuji Rock Festival, Niigata, Japan<ref name="YouTubeFuji" />

There have also been tours and performances in Nigeria,<ref name="WashPost20000121" /> and London, England.<ref name="Vortex" />  The band has performed at many Performing Arts Centers including Kennedy Center and Cerritos Center Cerritos Ca plus many US and UK Universities.

==Family==

Foyeh has 14 brothers and two sisters who live variously in the US, the UK and Nigeria.<ref name="Clafin"/>
One of his younger brothers is Abimbola Olowofoyeku, a [[professor of Law]] at [[Brunel University London]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/abimbola-olowofoyeku
| title = Professor Abimbola Olowofoyeku, Brunel University, London
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref> His youngest sister is Hollywood actress [[Folake Olowofoyeku]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1321860/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm
| title = Folake Olowofoyeku in The Beaver
| website = [[IMDb]]
| access-date = 15 April 2019
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1919154/
| title = Folake Olowofoyeku, Actress
| website = [[IMDb]]
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref>

Foyeh's nephew Kwame Jackson was the [[runner-up]] in [[NBC]]'s 2004 ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 1)|The Apprentice]]'', hosted by [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.kwameinc.com/
| title = Kwame Inc
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/fashion/article8996162.html
| title = Kwame Jackson, Charlotte Observer
| access-date = 13 April 2019
}}</ref> His nephew Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku was one of the three on Kugali team that created a Nigerian animated mini-series [[Iwájú]] for [[Disney+]], released in February 2024.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://kameleonafricamusic.com Kameleon Africa Music]
* [http://tobyfoyeh.com Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa]
* {{discogs artist|Toby Foyeh}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foyeh, Toby}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Yoruba musicians]]
[[Category:English people of Yoruba descent]]
[[Category:International School, Ibadan alumni]]
[[Category:Howard University alumni]]
[[Category:Berklee College of Music alumni]]
[[Category:King's College, Lagos alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century Black British male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century British male singers]]
[[Category:Nigerian singers]]
[[Category:Nigerian guitarists]]
[[Category:Nigerian flautists]]
[[Category:Nigerian keyboardists]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]
[[Category:English people of Nigerian descent]]
[[Category:Yoruba-language British singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Black British male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century British male singers]]