My music showcases Benin culture globally, Hammerboi

Afrobeats artist, Osasike Uwuigbe, also known as Hammerboi, has said his songs in Benin language have gained more listeners outside his area. He believes his music has helped introduce his culture to people around the world.

The singer shared that he chose to sing mainly in his native language because of his love for Benin culture. He wants to keep the language alive and promote it.

He told Saturday Beats, “I didn’t just wake up one morning and start singing in my dialect. It came naturally to me, and my decision was also influenced by my love for the culture and my desire to preserve and promote the language.”

Hammerboi, who used to be a music producer, said he didn't initially care about making money or being famous with his indigenous-language songs.

He said, “At first, I didn’t really care about being commercially successful or becoming very popular. I used to be a full-time music producer, producing for different artistes. One day, I thought, ‘Let me just do something unique for Benin people.”

The artist explained that his passion for writing songs in his native language started when he was a child. He wrote and produced songs for his church choir back then.

Hammerboi noted that the positive response to his music showed him that language does not always stop people from connecting with music.

He explained that listeners can enjoy music through its feelings, melody, and energy, even if they do not understand the words.

“Music is a universal language, and I believe uniqueness and authenticity connect with people more than anything else. People don’t necessarily care about the language; they connect with how the music makes them feel,” he added.

He mentioned that his audience has grown beyond Edo State. Now, people from other Nigerian states and different countries are showing interest in his music.

“The great part is that I actually have more listeners outside my region. When I check my top five audiences, I tend to see cities outside my region before I start seeing cities from my own area,” he said.

Hammerboi also said that some of his international listeners have become interested in Edo culture after hearing his music.

He added, “Many people have told me that even though they don’t understand every word, they can feel the emotions and passion in my music. Some have even become curious about my culture.”

According to him, he has fans from French-speaking countries who often ask for translations of his songs and videos.

Beyond just entertainment, Hammerboi hopes his music will inspire young people to embrace their local languages instead of hiding them.

“I want people to understand that our languages are treasures and deserve to be celebrated, not hidden. I am encouraging young people to embrace their roots and take pride in where they come from, wherever that may be,” he said.

Although Edo remains central to his music, he said he is open to trying out other languages when his creativity calls for it.

“If you listen to my recent album, you will hear a combination of English and other languages. My native language will always remain at the heart of my music,” he said.