Olawale Oyenola

My name is Michael “Olawale” Oyenola. Born in Brooklyn and shaped by the rhythms of Nigeria, I spent my childhood immersed in the culture before returning to the U.S. as a teenager. In Abeokuta, Ogun State, I got my first talking drum, sparking a lifelong journey to discovering ancestral wisdom. My love for music runs deep—Apala, Juju, and Fuji were the soundtracks to my childhood, with legends like Musiliu Haruna Ishola, King Sunny Adé, and Ebenezer Obey influencing my appreciation for rhythm and storytelling. Their music taught me the power of tradition, movement, and the deep connection between sound and identity.