Artist Focus: Wande Coal The Gifted Performer
The black diamond never lacks for melodies!
Real name:Oluwatobi Wande Minlah Stage name:Wande Coal Date of birth:October 18, 1985 State of Origin:Lagos Nationality:Nigerian Genre:Afro-Pop, R&B,Afrobeats
Though he may not be as prominent as he was in the Nigerian music scene,Wande Coal remains one of Nigeria’s most talented singers. With two impressive studio albums and one heck of a voice, the vocalist still has what it takes to thrill music fans.
Born in Lagos Island, Lagos Island, Nigeria, Wande Coal is the son of Chief Ibukun Olufunto and Omolara Oluwayemisi Ojosipe.
He is the first of two children and had his primary education at Staff Nurse Nursery and Ijaniki Primary School. He then proceeded to Federal Government College Lagos for his secondary education.
Wande studied Curriculum Studies at theUniversity of Lagos (UNILAG).
The dark-skinned star began singing as a teen in his church’s teenage choir and broke into the Nigerian entertainment industry as a dancer.
His wonderful vocals and dancing abilities got him noticed by famous music producerDon Jazzy and he was signed to now-defunctMo’ Hits Records in 2006.
His being featured onD’banj’sRundown/Funk You Upalbum increased his popularity (he lent his vocals to the singlesLoke,Tonosibe, andWhy Me).
Wande played a prominent role in the Mo’Hits All-Stars album titledCurriculum Vitae. His first single of the albumOlolufe has been called one of the greatest love songs ever written by a Nigerian.
The artist released his debut studio album in 2009. TitledMushin To Mo’Hits, it was widely received across Nigeria, the U.K., and U.S.
Following his newfound fame and popularity, Wande collaborated with other Nigerian artists likeNaeto C,Dr. SID,D’Prince, andWizkid.
Following a fallout among record label Executives Don Jazzy and D’banj in 2012, Wande Coal, Dr. SID and D’Prince signed on to Don Jazzy’s new Record LabelMavin Records.
Coal left Mavin Records in 2013 and in October of that same year, he released the singleBaby Face.
In 2015, he dropped his sophomore albumWanted. The reviews placed the musical work in the region of slightly above average.
2017 saw the singer release the singlesIskaba (featuringDJ Tunez),Ballerz,Oh No No,Funkeh, andTurkey Nla. His latest single isAgain which was dropped in 2020.