WITHIN THE space of a few months, Joeboy has gone from recording cover songs in his college dorm to becoming one of African music’s brightest new stars, topping charts from Nigeria to Uganda and touring the continent with an improbable run of smashes. 

The 22-year-old singer releases his debut EP, Love & Light, via Banku Music and emPawa Distribution.

The five-song EP includes Joeboy’s addictive breakthrough hits “Baby” and “Beginning” as well as his latest single, “Don’t Call Me Back,” a collaboration with Mayorkun recently premiered via Rolling Stone, and two previously unheard tracks, “All For You” and “Blessings.”

With lyrics that capture the innocence of young love and the sting of youthful heartbreak, Joeboy continues to carve his own lane within the increasingly crowded field of Nigerian pop stars.

The first artist to participate in emPawa Africa, the talent incubator and mentorship program founded by afropop superstar Mr Eazi in 2018, Joeboy has become a symbol of the initiative’s success and potential, reaching No. 1 on Apple Music in Nigeria and Uganda with “Baby” and “Beginning,” his first two solo singles, as well as top 10 spots in Kenya, Ghana and Zimbabwe.

His swift ascent and hitmaking talent has taken him beyond the continent, earning him coverage from Rolling Stone, CNN and Billboard. This month, Joeboy will make his UK debut when he opens for Mr. Eazi at London’s 02 Academy Brixton on this week. 

Produced by up-and-coming Nigerian producer BeatsbyKO, the cheeky “Don’t Call Me Back” has followed a similar trajectory to “Baby” and “Beginning,” joining its predecessors inside Apple Music’s Top 20 in Nigeria (where it’s currently #2), Ghana (#2), Kenya (#14), Uganda (#17)  and Zimbabwe (#20).