Tay Iwar: The Soulful Architect of Modern Afrobeats

Austin Iornongu Iwar, better known by his stage name Tay Iwar, was born on June 9, 1997, in Marina, Lagos, Nigeria. Raised between the bustling streets of Lagos and the more laid-back vibe of Abuja, Tay grew up in a musically inclined family that shaped his artistic destiny from an early age. His parents, influenced by genres like jazz, soul, blues, and reggae, insisted that all their children attend classical music school, where Tay reluctantly learned piano—a foundation that would later clash with his budding passion for production. It was his older brother, Suté Iwar, a rapper and producer, who truly ignited the spark. By age 14, inspired by Suté’s hip-hop explorations, Tay dove into music creation using FL Studio software, experimenting with beats in his bedroom. This self-taught journey transformed him into a multifaceted talent: singer, songwriter, sound engineer, record producer, and composer, all before he could legally vote.

Tay’s meteoric rise began in 2013 when, alongside Suté, he co-founded Bantu Collective, an Abuja-based entertainment company focused on recording, distribution, and even photography. It was under this banner that Tay, still just 16, unleashed his debut project, Passport, on April 20, 2014—months before his 17th birthday. This critically acclaimed mixtape wasn’t just a teenage experiment; it was a sonic passport stamping his arrival in Nigeria’s evolving music scene. Blending dreamy R&B, experimental soul, and both intimate and expansive. It earned nominations for Choice Mixtape/EP at the Nigerian Teens Choice Awards in 2014 and 2015, marking Tay as a prodigy in the burgeoning alté movement—a Nigerian subgenre fusing Afrobeats, R&B, and alternative sounds

By 2018, Tay inked a publishing and distribution deal with LA-based collective Soulection, a pivotal move that bridged his Nigerian roots with global tastemakers. His true breakout came in 2019 with GEMINI, his full-length debut album, released via Soulection. This 16-track odyssey explored the duality of love—affectionate yet prone to repetition, much like the Gemini zodiac it evoked—with features from alté peers like Cruel Santino, Preyé, Odunsi (The Engine), and Suté. Tracks like “Utero” showcased his vocal prowess, earning a nomination for Best Vocal Performance (Male) at the 14th Headies.

What truly elevated Tay from alté darling to modern Afrobeats powerhouse was his behind-the-scenes wizardry. His songwriting and production credits began stacking up with industry titans, infusing Afrobeats’ infectious rhythms with emotional depth and R&B subtlety. In 2020, he co-wrote “True Love” for Wizkid’s Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition (featuring Projexx), a soulful gem that snagged his first Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance. He followed with writing duties on Wizkid’s More Love, Less Ego (2022), penning “Deep” and “Frames.” That same year, Tay co-produced Burna Boy’s “Alone” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, earning dual Grammy nods in late 2023 for Best Score and Best Global Music Performance.His contributions extended to Dave’s “System” (featuring Wizkid), which topped the UK Official Afrobeat Chart, and features on Omah Lay’s *Boy Alone.

Today, at 28, Tay Iwar stands as one of modern Afrobeats’ greatest songwriters—not through bombast, but precision. His reclusive persona, married to a “dedication to perfection in song-making” and “rooted pursuit of originality,” has made him a quiet revolutionary in a genre exploding globally.

From Passport’s teenage wanderlust to Grammy-nominated anthems, Tay has evolved into a beacon of consistency, blending Afrobeats’ pulse with raw emotion. In a landscape demanding conformity, his individuality endures, proving that true artistry stamps its own passport to immortality.