Wande Coal

Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe, professionally known as Wande Coal, was born on October 18, 1985, in Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria. He is the first of two children born to Chief Ibukun Olufunto and Omolara Oluwayemisi Ojosipe. His educational journey began at Staff Nursery and Primary School Ijanikin, Lagos State, and continued at Federal Government College Ijanikin, also in Lagos State, for his secondary education. He then pursued higher education at the University of Lagos, where he studied Human Kinetics. Wande Coal’s early involvement in music stemmed from singing in his church’s teenage choir. His initial entry into the Nigerian entertainment industry was as a dancer, a role that preceded his full immersion into music.

His professional music career took a significant turn in 2006 when he signed with Don Jazzy’s Mo’ Hits Records. During his time with Mo’ Hits, he made notable contributions to D’banj’s album, “RunDown Funk U Up,” featuring on tracks like “Loke,” “Tonosibe,” and “Why Me.” He was an integral member of the Mo’ Hits all-stars, playing a key role in their “Curriculum Vitae” album. His debut single, “Ololufe,” from the “CV” album, gained widespread recognition. Wande Coal’s debut album, “Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits,” released in 2009, was well-received in Nigeria, the UK, and the USA. This period also saw him collaborate with various Nigerian artists, including Ikechukwu, Phyno, Davido, Naeto C, Dr SID, D’Prince, and Wizkid.

In 2012, following the dissolution of Mo’ Hits Records, Wande Coal joined Don Jazzy’s new label, Mavin Records, alongside Dr SID and D’Prince. He departed from Mavin Records in November 2013, citing intellectual property issues related to a song. This departure was marked by the release of his single “Baby Face.” In the same year, he established his own music label, Black Diamond Entertainment. He released his second album, “Wanted,” in 2015, and continued to release singles such as “Tur-Key Nla” in 2017 and “Again” in 2020. His EP, “Realms,” was released in 2020. In 2023, he released his third studio album, “Legend or No Legend.” Throughout his career, Wande Coal has received several awards, including Best R&b/Pop Single at the 2010 Hip Hop World Awards and African Artiste of the Year at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards, solidifying his position in the African music scene.