Toby Foyeh

Tokunbo Olowofoyeku (, ), professionally known as Toby Foyeh, is a British-Nigerian musician. Born in London, England, to Nigerian parents, he is currently based in the Washington, D.C. area of the US. Although essentially self-taught, he studied music at Berklee College of Music and Howard University, where he also earned a degree in Film Directing.

Foyeh's albums are Here I Come in Nigeria, Jalolo (1999/2001), Lagos Ilu Eko (2006) released in the US, Canada, and Europe, and Pirates of Africa (2019). The debut album Here I Come produced the singles "Ore mi" and "I'm on Fire". "Jalolo" and "Rain Dance" are key tracks from Jalolo and Lagos Ilu Eko. African Festival was released in September 2021. A future CD/Vinyl album 'The Land of Spirits' is scheduled for release in 2025.

Foyeh has performed extensively on Nigerian Television and his music videos have been played for many years. With his band, Orchestra Africa, he has performed in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Canada, Caribbean, Japan and Africa. He is uncle to Kwame Jackson, the runner-up in NBC's 2004 The Apprentice.

Early life and education

Foyeh was born in London, England, grew up mainly in Western Nigeria before progressing to embark on university education at Berklee College of Music and Howard University in the USA. He is the fifth child of Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, a Nigerian politician and the former Attorney General of the Western Region in Nigeria's First Republic (1960–1966). From the age of 5, he attended Children's Home School, Ibadan and then transferred to Abadina School (University of Ibadan) and finished his primary education at St Johns School, Iloro, Ilesha. as well as performing arts centers including Kennedy Center and Cerritos Center, Cerritos, California. Also the UK-based saxophonist and keyboard player Tunday Akintan has toured with Foyeh's band and the US-based TolumiDE sings as a backup vocalist and opening act for the band

The band has been on tour internationally and performed in many International Jazz Festivals such as Malta Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival (thrice), Montreal International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Calgary Jazz Festival, Medicine Hat Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Syracuse Jazz Festival, Washington DC Jazz Festival, Bahamas Jazz Festival, Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Grenada Spice Jazz Festival, Curaçao Jazz Festival and Fuji Rock Festival, Niigata, Japan His youngest sister is Hollywood actress Folake Olowofoyeku.

Foyeh's nephew Kwame Jackson was the runner-up in NBC's 2004 The Apprentice, hosted by Donald Trump. His nephew Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku was one of the three on Kugali team that created a Nigerian animated mini-series Iwájú for Disney+, released in February 2024.