Unbelievable moments from Haywhy De Rhymer’s live performance

By Michael Kolawole

Ayokunle Adebayo is no stranger to the stage. Known widely as Haywhy De Rhymer, he has the kind of presence that doesn’t just fill a room, it lingers long after the spotlight fades. His journey is one of rhythm, performance, and vision: a deliberate fusion of indigenous spoken word, acting, and music.

This ethos is visible in how he blends performance with conviction. His spoken word carries the pulse of Yoruba oral tradition, wrapped in contemporary rhythm. Yoruba orature, particularly oriki (panegyric poetry), storytelling, and chant, has long been a vessel for communal memory and spiritual praise. Haywhy doesn’t just echo this tradition; he modernises it with linguistic dexterity, fusing Yoruba, English, and Pidgin into a global rhythm that audiences around the world can connect to.

The essence of Haywhy’s artistry comes alive most powerfully when he is on stage. In the viral performance video at FWC Abuja Experience titled “Unbelievable Moments from Haywhy De Rhymer’s Live Performance”, clad in a Dashiki and an Abeti Aja cap made from Damask material, he stands under warm lights with a single mic, no clutter, no theatrics, but well-done stage movement. What follows is a mind-blowing oriki (panegyric) on the kindness and greatness of Eledumare (God) which is unique from the conventional style.

“When you worship Alpha, you will go far,” Haywhy De Rhymer says as he begins his spoken word poetry. “When you praise Omega, you will go mega.” The audiences respond with a joyful roar, clapping their hands to appreciate his pristine performance.

The camera lingers on Haywhy’s face, catching his stillness as he greets and acknowledges the youthfulness of an unseen woman in the crowd.

After the brief break, he continues with his performance, revving it up to excite the audience. His rendition is measured and deliberate, each syllable laced with the cadence of Yoruba oral poetry mixed with Nigerian pidgin.

“I call him the Arúgbó Ọjọ (Ancient of Days) that’s greater than Ọbasanjọ / Ọba Atiku (The everlasting King) that’s greater than Atiku,” he continues with his praises of God Almighty. For the non-initiated, (Olusegun) Ọbasanjọ was the former President of Nigeria and Atiku (Abubakar) was his voice. These words evoke the lyrics from one of Yinka Ayefele’s songs, symbolising God as eternal, unchanging, and steadfast strength.

As his delivery accelerates, Haywhy skillfully code-mixes and switches languages and registers. Yoruba words and phrases blend into English, Yoruba, and Pidgin phrases, creating a captivating performance that excites the audience. His gestures become sharp and expressive, slicing through the air with purpose. With rising intensity, his message bursts forth, charged with the importance that demands attention from the audience.

The camera captures not just him but the faces in the crowd, listeners nodding, tearing up, or sitting in rapt attention. Some people jump to their feet and lift their hands up for praise. A ripple of applause rings out when Haywhy De Rhymer references actors, politicians, and pop stars, using their names, positions, and lyrics to appreciate God for his eternal glory and mercy.

Toward the end, the rhythm softens into something prayerful. Haywhy’s voice lowers, almost whispering, drawing the audience closer into a reflective mood. “That’s why I want to tell you… Your help will not come from abroad / but surely from above,” he says with rigour, his hands lifted in a benedictory gesture, as if sending the words into the world.

He closes with propulsive rhymes. “That’s why I say: aspire, to acquire, your desire, which you admire / if by the road you perspire, do not retire, to admire your desire, which you admire,” he chants with sincerity, leaving the air charged with meaning. After adding some Bible Chapters like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah, Sacariah to the mix, he wraps up the performance, telling the crowd to look up to the Messiah, because he will rekindle their fire, and not let them go haywire.

The crowd lifts their hands in worship and screams with happiness as Haywhy De Rhymer asks them to celebrate God. The camera fades as the applause swells, but it is clear that the real performance continues in the hearts of those present.

Moments like this explain why Haywhy’s voice has travelled far beyond Nigerian stages. His performances are not mere showcases, they’re declarations of purpose, anchored in faith, culture, and a commitment to inspire.