Born in Calabar, Nigeria, Iyanya Mbuk gained widespread exposure in 2008 when he won the MTN Project Fame West Africa TV talent show. A debut album, My Story, was poorly received but, undeterred, he replaced his slick R&B ballads with a more rugged Afropop sound. It was a canny move, with the single “Kukere” becoming a massive hit that scooped up an armful of awards and even made inroads into the UK. Having co-founded his own label, Made Men Music Group, his profile has continued to grow since releasing his second album, Desire in 2013. Catch up on his story so far.