In a dynamic turn of events, rising UK afrobeats star Gift OFA makes a compelling return with his latest EP, Ebun-Oluwa. After overcoming a challenging trademark dispute with retail giant NEXT and evolving from his previous stage name LipsyBaby, Gift OFA, formerly known as Gift, is set to reintroduce himself to the music world with a fresh and deeply personal project. The EP, which translates to ‘God’s Gift,’ reflects a powerful blend of personal growth and artistic transformation. With tracks that explore themes of nostalgia, divine feminine energy, and playful exuberance, Gift OFA continues to capture the essence of his Nigerian roots and his vibrant London upbringing. Following his recent success with singles ‘Waterproof’ and ‘Deny’ and earning the 2023 UK Afrobeats Artist of the Year accolade, Gift OFA’s Ebun-Oluwa promises to resonate with fans old and new, offering a rich tapestry of sounds and stories.
Read the full interview below:
Your latest EP, “Ebun-Oluwa,” is a significant milestone in your career. Can you delve into the personal and artistic motivations that led to the creation of this EP?
Following my rebranding, I had taken on my birth name as my artist performing name. This initially was something I didn’t appreciate enough, until I heard a few people call me by the name. There was then a switch that I felt I needed to reintroduce myself, who I am as an artist, a focal point in my career and sound. This thought was way before the EP; I was working on a different project at the time and became quite ill, so I didn’t make music for a little while. After over a month of illness, I started to feel better, and one faithful Saturday with my daughter, I felt like listening to beats, so I knew my creativity was bursting through the seams. I heard the production for the Ebun-Oluwa track and said to myself, I need to tell my story. That same day, I wrote both Ebun-oluwa and SOS and was up till 2am till I finished them. Right then, in the middle of the night, I contacted the producer to discuss as I knew this was something incredible, and he got back to me immediately, so everything was aligned, as the odds of getting a response from someone you both are strangers at 2:30am in the morning are rare.
How did your early experiences in Edo State, Nigeria shape your musical journey and the themes explored in this EP?
I think this is a very integral part, because firstly I am thankful for my hometown, my upbringing, because it shaped me into who I am today. Growing up I was part of the middle class families, and despite this there were also hard times, difficult days, financially and otherwise. The drive for something better took me to the streets, where I met people, some friends and some foes, however doing this gave me my first opportunity of performing on stage with a band group, where one of the band member fell ill and I opted to fill in. I had not much inclination of what I was doing but I know I loved it and if I could have been there the whole night on stage I would. This immersive experience and others, like trying to rap or watch other inspirational artists like Tuface, Dbanj and thinking wow, wish I could do that too. These experiences lit up a fire in me, I never knew would burn so bright over a decade and half later, Ebun-Oluwa is in most parts my life story, my upbringing, and also how music tends to take away your sorrows, and on quote “play the music make we je’aiye o” meaning play the music let’s enjoy life.
You mentioned facing a significant legal battle with retail giants NEXT, which led to your name change from LipsyBaby to Gift OFA. Can you share the details?
Yes, I can speak about this now, as I am completely healed from the trauma of this ginormous experience. Following the release of my track Fokus, myself and team did some promotional work that prompted Google to issue me my official knowledge panel around March or April. Following this, I received an email from lawyers late April, May asking me to cease and desist from using my artist name LipsyBaby of Africa. I laughed as I thought this was a hoax mail, sent it to my manager and we thought it wasn’t legit as who would drag my artist brand with me, it’s a unique name I have had since 2010, even tattooed on my left arm in 2011. It wasn’t till after researching into the firm’s profile, I realised they were a legitimate firm and we engaged them in a conversation. They wanted me to stop using my artist name with immediate effect, which was impossible, as I have been building that name for a few years and gaining popularity where everyone knows me to be “Lipsy” The battle by my lawyers and theirs went on for months, incurring expense, sleepless nights, fear of losing myself and all I have worked hard for or quitting music. A lot was going on at the time, where I was doing quite a lot of gigs and whilst people would call me Lipsy, I felt like a shadow of myself as I know I may not be that person in the near future, and what is the way out. This went on for a while longer, till we decided to abandon the name and look into the possibility of a new name. I agreed with the team’s decision and after my last performance, I disagreed with the change and wanted to fight more, as it was incredibly tough to feel like losing a very significant part of you, or what you do. With the entire team’s effort and contribution, it became too expensive and negatively draining to fight, so they made me see reason for which after a lot of name brainstorming, we went with my birth name “Gift” added to my alias OF Africa, becoming Gift OFA. In hindsight, I think this was indeed a blessing in disguise I didn’t know I needed.
How has this change influenced your artistic vision and the reception of your new work?
I think it is one of the best things to happen to me in my career, as I see myself now as a unified body, both in my personal life and my musical life. Previously where people would call me Lipsy, that tells me they are from my musical side, where now I don’t feel like 2 different people, outside of being Gift. My artistic vision became even clearer when I spoke to someone in October 2022, I can’t name drop but he knows if he ever sees this. I met him for the first time at a studio, I had gone there to see him on purpose and he took me to a separate room, sat me down and asked me how do you see yourself, what do people see when they look at you or call your name. He unlocked a part of my consciousness I didn’t know was there, and gave me one of the best pieces of advice that I carry with me everywhere even presently.
“Majo” is described as a celebration of divine feminine energy and beauty. What inspired you to create a track centred around this theme, and how does it fit into the broader narrative of the EP?
Majo is a special track, and it was inspired from a female encounter I had where I was trying to make someone feel that they are the only one that matters. I think women make the world go round, the things a man would do for a woman are infinite. I am not gonna sit here and say I don’t like women, hell I love women especially beautiful ones and that’s the truth, they are to be revered and I love celebrating them. I think if the women are around, the men will surely find their way, it’s just the way of life. I am a man of layers, which is characterised by this EP, Majo is essentially me in my “lover boy” phase, a little flirty look, a smile, poised charisma, a cheeky wink or more.
The closing track “SOS” is characterized by playful wordplay and a carefree vibe. How does this track represent the different facets of your personality and musical style?
SOS, I love this track and whenever I listen to it, I laugh at myself and the way I put it is that it’s explicit but not explicit. Again, you can feel the vibe of the track from its feel and lyrics. This is a playful song, however it also represents the naughty bad boy side of me, which is the utter truth. I think the best way to sort of describe me is that I am the middle man, neither a bad nor a good boy. I am one of those things you find in the middle, that brings to you the best of both worlds, stability mixed in with a little chaos. SOS represents that cheeky and playful side of me, similar to my previous song Fokus.
Your previous singles, “Waterproof” and “Deny,” received significant attention and earned you the 2023 UK Afrobeats Artist of the Year award. How did these successes shape your approach to “Ebun-Oluwa”?
My manager often tends to use the phrase, “doors are opening, expectations are getting bigger” . Winning the best Afrobeats award was a shock, never won anything on that scale before, outside of dance competitions as a kid. This one felt good, it felt deserved that I was being seen and all the hard work from myself and team hadn’t gone unnoticed. I knew the singles bringing me this remarkable award were outstanding, however I am a man of growth, and whilst creating the Ebun-Oluwa EP, I wanted to show my growth in this project, I went above and beyond to achieve this, took us all around 8-9 months of work, and I am so grateful for all the people that I worked with on this, because they were all as invested as I was and for that, this project belongs to us all.
Your music is influenced by legendary Nigerian artists like Fela Kuti, D’Banj, and Wizkid. How have these artists impacted your musical style and the sound of your new EP?
I think if you go back to listen to my earlier songs, the influences of these people, most especially the legend Fela, is undeniable. First and foremost where possible I love to have a saxophone in my song, instruments and the feel to be very Afrocentric. Dbanj, is someone I have always looked up to, he’s very charismatic, unique with a killer dress sense. Wizkid on the other hand inspired the creation of the Ebun-Oluwa track, similar to his IDK with Zlatan. I have loved Wiz since 2010 Holla at your boy and that love has never declined. I feel as though we share certain traits and character, that most things he does, including how he carries himself, his respect for people, and humility is inspiring on so many levels. With the new school influences, Wizkid’s inspiration is something I key into daily, but the most important thing to note here is that it inspires me not to be Wizkid, but to be a better version of myself, the Gift of Africa.
The EP’s title, “Ebun-Oluwa,” translates to “God’s Gift.” How does this concept of divine blessing and grace resonate with the themes and messages you aimed to convey in this project?
I have been heavily blessed by God, he gave me a talent, a Gift of creativity and as we know God himself is a creative, simply take a look at us humans and the world in general, this is the work of a creative. In this project, I want people to see the Gift that God himself has given to me in full brilliance and as I use this gift wisely, to bring smiles, happiness, contentment or upliftment to people’s lives through my music, regardless of the song that most resonates with them. Music itself is subjective, so it will mean different things to a lot of people in different ways, which we can’t always control, however if any of the above is felt whilst listening, then this to me is the real essence of my Gift.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of your music career, and how do you envision the “Ebun-Oluwa” EP contributing to your long-term goals as an artist?
Future aspirations, I am very excited for what’s to come, I am a person of growth as I mentioned earlier on. Ebun-Oluwa is that focal point for me that when anyone hears it back, they can say yea i knew when he started this journey and I have been there ever since. I would love to collaborate with some of our incredibly gifted afrobeats artists, hold my first headline show which may come in the following year, and meet some of my idols. My hope for this project is that it attains the success it deserves and it inspires other people to do the same, from seeing what I have achieved in my own little way. I am very big on impact and if I can positively impact, even a single person, then my intentions are being actualised.
