Follow Us on Google
By Abiola Peters
Oluwasanmi Abayomi, popularly known as Sanmi Baba, is carving a niche for himself as a music producer by combining Nigeria’s rich musical heritage with contemporary sounds.
Abayomi, who hails from Idanre in Ondo State, said his journey into music production was inspired by a longstanding passion for music that began during his time as a church instrumentalist.
“I served as an instrumentalist in church, and that was where my love for music truly began,” he said. “Over time, I kept developing myself, learning, experimenting and eventually building my interest and skills in music production.”
The producer’s academic journey took him through L.A. Primary School, Ilepa, Ikare-Akoko, and African Church Unity Secondary School, Epinmi-Akoko. He later attended the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, before pursuing a university degree.
Describing his musical identity, Abayomi said his production style draws heavily from Yoruba and African musical traditions while incorporating contemporary Afrobeats and gospel influences.
“My sound is rooted in the rich, vibrant soul of Nigeria warm, rhythmic and deeply authentic,” he said. “I blend traditional Yoruba and African melodies with modern Afrobeats and gospel music, creating music that honours our heritage yet speaks to the world.”
According to him, his music is intended not only to entertain but also to communicate stories of hope, resilience, joy and cultural identity.
“Every beat tells a story of home, of hope, of resilience and of joy,” he said. “It is a sound that feels familiar, alive and uniquely ours, carrying the spirit of our people while reaching across borders.”
Abayomi cited some of Nigeria’s leading music producers, including Don Jazzy, Masterkraft, Rexxie and ID Cabasa, as major influences on his career.
He said he admires their creativity, commitment to excellence and contribution to the growth of Nigeria’s music industry.
“It has been a journey of creativity, passion and shared purpose, seeing how they pour heart and soul into their craft, how they lift others up and how they carry Nigeria’s vibrant culture and sound to the world stage,” he said.
Other News
For Abayomi, producing music requires more than technical expertise. He identified a keen and trained ear, solid technical knowledge, musical sensitivity, patience, communication, discipline, consistency, adaptability and integrity as essential qualities for a good sound engineer.
He also believes that producers and sound engineers have an important role to play in helping artistes realise their full potential.
“I’ve always felt bad whenever I hear someone singing off-key, not because I want to criticise them, but because I genuinely believe they can sound so much better,” he said.
“Sometimes, all they need is the right guidance, proper training and someone who truly understands the job.” That desire to help artistes improve, he said, remains one of the factors driving his passion for music production.
“I love helping people discover the best version of their sound and bringing out what they already have within them,” Abayomi said.
He views music production as a creative process that goes beyond the technical manipulation of sound.
“Music is more than just making sounds; it’s about understanding the artist, shaping the sound and helping the listener feel something,” he said.
As he looks towards the future, the producer expressed gratitude for his progress so far and optimism about taking on larger projects and collaborations.
“I’m grateful for how far I’ve come, and I can’t wait to collaborate and contribute to bigger projects ahead,” he said.
For Sanmi Baba, the journey from serving as a church instrumentalist to developing his craft as a producer reflects a broader commitment to music, faith and culture with his sights set on creating sounds that preserve Nigeria’s musical identity while connecting with audiences beyond the country’s borders.
———
