Following in the footsteps of Rivers-born music stars such as Burna Boy and Duncan Mighty, a new generation of artistes is gradually finding its voice on Nigeria’s vibrant music scene.

Among them is young Afrobeats singer and songwriter, Qillahboy, who is steadily building a name with his distinctive sound and storytelling.

Born Precious John Ogisi, but popularly known as Qillahboy, the rising artiste is carving a niche for himself with songs including Hallelujah, Nobody, Superstar, and Everyday.

For Qillahboy, however, music goes beyond entertainment. It is a reflection of life — its struggles, triumphs, celebrations and changing seasons. His music, he says, draws heavily from his personal experiences.

At the heart of his emerging musical identity is a simple but powerful symbol — the rose. To him, the flower represents the different emotions, experiences and phases that define the human journey.

From weddings and birthdays to marriage proposals and even burial ceremonies, Qillahboy believes the rose can take on different meanings depending on the moment.

“Just as the rose fits into different moments and emotions, my music is made to connect with different parts of life,” he said.

He captures this philosophy in his signature phrase: “One Rose. Many Stories. Different Phases. One Qillahboy.”

“I don’t just want to make songs; I want to tell stories and create music for different phases of life,” he said.

A Childhood Shaped By Music
Qillahboy’s relationship with music began long before he entered the recording studio professionally.

As a child, his grandmother took him to Baptist Church conventions and music and dance gatherings across communities in Odual, his place of origin in Rivers State, as well as in Bayelsa State.

There, he encountered people singing, playing drums and dancing together — experiences that introduced him to the emotional power and communal spirit of music.

Those early encounters, he says, laid the foundation for his love of music and eventually influenced his decision to make it a career.

At six, he joined his local church choir, initially not as a singer but as a drummer. “I’ve always been surrounded by music. From a young age, I remember going with my grandmother to Baptist Church conventions in different communities of Odual, where I come from, and even in Bayelsa State, as well as music and dance gatherings where people would sing, play drums and dance together.

“At the age of six, I joined the church choir, not as a singer at first, but as a drummer. I played the drums in our local church and whenever we went for conventions. I still play the drums and keyboard in my church till today.

“That experience made me fall in love with music. Eventually, I started singing myself and realised that music was the best way for me to express my emotions, share my life experiences, and allow people to connect with both my struggles and happiest moments,” he said.

That early exposure continues to influence his approach to music, which combines personal experiences with melodies intended to resonate with listeners across different stages of life.

Building the Qillahboy identity
Beyond his songs, Qillahboy is also building a community around his brand. His fans, whom he calls Qillahbeings, are central to his vision of creating music that goes beyond individual releases to foster a sense of belonging.

Looking ahead, the artiste hopes to establish himself as an African act with an audience beyond the continent.

“In the next five years, I see myself as an established African artiste with a strong global presence. I want my music to reach different parts of the world and connect with people from different cultures.

“I also see myself building a strong community of Qillahbeings, releasing meaningful projects, performing on bigger stages, collaborating with great artistes and creating opportunities for other
young talents.

“Most importantly, I want Qillahboy to become more than just a name. I want the rose to represent a story of growth, resilience and the different phases of life. I want people to hear my music and feel like their own story is being told,” he said.

New music, bigger plans
As part of efforts to deepen his connection with his growing audience, Qillahboy has released a new single, Go Qillah, on September 25 and plan is underway to follow up with an EP scheduled for release on October 30. The artiste will round off the release calendar with his Homecoming Concert on November 28.

For Qillahboy, however, the journey is bigger than the releases, performances and growing fan base. It is about using music to document his experiences while giving listeners a soundtrack for their own.

“I’m not just making music; I’m telling my story. And I promise to make my supporters, the Qillahbeings, proud. Always remember, it’s Qillahboy when you see the rose,” the artiste said.