Falode: Developing Nigerian Music Talents, Creative Through Tyler Fray Foundation

A decade after the tragic death of Oloruntoba Oluwadamilola Falode, aka, Tyler Fray, in Dubai, his family has launched the Tyler Fray Foundation in his honour to nurture talents and creatives in Nigeria.

On February 15 2014, the then 19-year-old Nigerian student based in Dubai and the only son of his family tragically passed away. His supposed friends claimed that Toba fell while sitting on the railing of a balcony, and as a result, the case was closed without an extensive investigation.

After years, his mother, Aisha Falode and sister, Tolu Falode, are making his dreams of helping underprivileged creatives come to pass with the launch of the foundation and scholarship to five promising Nigerians.

At the launch at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, two people received scholarships in advanced video production, two got scholarships for diploma in audio production and one in music performance.

He sister declared: “The launch of this foundation is the culmination of a vision—a vision Toba had ever since he was seven years of age- to bring music alive and spread his love for sound.

She said: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter, a chapter where together, we will work tirelessly to uplift, empower, and create opportunities for those who need it most. Through this foundation, we aim to bring music alive through those that have the talent but not the opportunity to deliver it. The Tyler Fray Foundation aims to give them the means and podium to share their gift with the world.

“As we move forward, we remain committed to the values of integrity, collaboration, and compassion. With the support of everyone, I have no doubt that the Tyler Fray Foundation will leave a lasting impact on the cause we serve.”

Speaking at the launch, Falode said: “Today, I see the joy in pain, I see the beauty in ashes, oil of gladness and goodness in place of what the enemies thought they have done. Tyler had so much impact and dreams to make in the music industry. His main area of strength was compassion; he was in school to study music production and the business of music, he had a studio here his friends who couldn’t afford the cost of studio section would use free of charge.”

“He registered a music company, Mr Fray Music and his dream was to make money and give it back to the society, helping indigents, who are talented but could not afford the platform needed and that was his dream. What we are doing here today is to bring the dream to life just as he wanted it.”

“As a starter, we have given scholarships to five students and this is just the beginning. Speaking on efforts to unravel the mystery behind his death, she said: “The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, did everything for me pro-bono when the incident happened, Abike Dabiri made sure the National Assembly lived up to its responsibility to ensure that we got the government of Dubai to address what happened, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila stood by us. The Nigerian media were supportive.

During a panel discussion, Founder of Ten Strings Music Institute, Emmanuel Akapo, asked that the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, engage professionals in the industry.

He said the government gets involved in programmes without engaging professionals and ends up building a structure not useful for Nigerians. Nigeria has one of the most talented people in the world and what we need is for the talents to be recognised and empowered. The biggest challenge we have in the music industry today is that we do not have the system that would produce the next Burnaboy so, that is we need to institute a process of creating intentionally..