Award winning singer-songwriter TolumiDE combines sweet, soulful vocals, warm lyrics and groovy, contemporary African rhythms to create a sound of her own, which she aptly calls ‘Suya Soul’. Born in Toronto, raised in Lagos and now in Washington, D.C, TolumiDE exudes eclectic style and delivers dynamic energy at every performance. She effortlessly sings in English and Yorùbá, her native language, on her album offerings, My Love and Mama Sunshine which takes audiences away to a tropical oasis with feel good vibes. Her accolades include Best R&B Female Artist at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards and her latest single ‘Throwback’ peaked at #3 on the Global Top Independent airplay chart.
Early beginnings of her music career began after TolumiDE moved to back to Canada from Nigeria. After completing secondary school studies at the age of 18, she became immersed in all forms of the creativity while studying Fine Art at York University and singing with multi-nominated all-female dancehall reggae band “Women Ah Run Tings” for six years. Shortly after moving to the United States to pursue a career in graphic design, TolumiDE performances began to bubble at open mics, festivals and weddings. She quickly garnered a following for her eclectic stage presence and intimate songwriting ingenuity noted to compliment her urban soul style with a fusion of her Yorùbá heritage while exploring themes of life, love, laughter, inspiration and native languages.
TolumiDE bares her musical journey in her press praised albums. Her follow up third acoustic album ‘Mama Sunshine’ sheds light unto brighter days when obstacles come our way and explores themes of positive affirmations, self-assurance, overcoming challenges and nostalgic memories. In spite of the success, she has experienced in her music career, TolumiDE is most inspired by her upbringing, cultural heritage and the loved ones who have supported her along the way. Through the golden moments reflected in her lyrics, she wishes to “bring back those days…”, she longs for her listeners to experience this feeling as expressed in her most recent release “Throwback”.
Notable DMV performance repertoire venues graced by TolumiDE covers Artscape, World Bank, Cherry Blossom Festival, 202 Creates, H Street festival, Art All Night DC, and Visual Collaborative. She has opened shows for renowned artists such as Les Nubians at Howard Theatre, Such at City Winery, afrobeats pioneers P-Square; and global world music star Salif Keita, singing with Toby Foyeh and Africa Orchestra at the Toronto Jazz Festival. In addition, she has had the opportunity to headline shows at the Legendary Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.
TolumiDE features as a singer-songwriter on debut “Jevi” album by Mexican artist Tonga Conga (Virgin Music MX). She also has multiple song collaborations with prolific artists and DJ producers as D-Black da Ghana Bwouy (Black Avenue Muzik), Latunde Silver (LS Entertainment Music), Stacy Kidd (House 4 Life Records) and Thomas Blondet (Rhythm & Culture Music). Her media appearances include Voice of America, FOX45, MTV Base, Channel O (South Africa), Trace TV (France), BET International (Europe), Channels TV (Nigeria), Soundcity and Afrotainment.
Dedicated to music community enhancement, TolumiDE serves the Recording Academy as a Governor with DC Chapter board and a voting Grammy member and an executive member of non-profit Afropolitan Youth Association, hosts of FestAfrica, the largest African Festival in Maryland. She was tasked with creating a diverse multi-cultural experience and a place of new discovery, fun memories and great contribution to the quality of life.
Stage name, TolumiDE (pronounced toe-lu-mee-day), is a collaboration of her last name Olumide and her first name Tolulope meaning “Thank you God” in Yorùbá
Influences embrace acts within R&B, Gospel and Classic Soul genres such as Sade, Anita Baker, Brandy, Mary Mary, Winans; and Africa pop stars as, Onyeka Owenu, Christy Essien Igbokwe and Angelique Kidjo.
Described as “a big blend of Afro-pop, funky reggae, neo-soul and jazz injecting her African heritage using bilingual lyrics, into a friendlier foundation of melodic pop and R&B balladry”,
She often cites being most inspired by her upbringing, cultural heritage and the loved ones who support her along the way.
She is ever ready to grace all occasions with riveting vocals, great personality, vibrant culture and engaging audience interaction, with hopes to invigorate the music scene with fresh ethnic sounds that enlightens listeners about contemporary African culture and brings sentimental grooves to old and youthful audiences.
Dedicated to creative arts community enhancement and youth development, TolumiDE shines as an artist innovator ever ready for music culture advancement.
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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Growing up in Nigeria, Tolu Olumide now known as her stage name TolumiDE, was born for music. She was a member of a number of choirs and cultural dance groups at her primary school, University of Lagos Staff School and secondary school, Atlantic Hall. Deciding to pursue Graphic Arts instead of the occupation of her father, an architect and engineer, she journeyed to Toronto and enrolled in York University’s Fine Art Program. “My faculty was filled with art, music, dance, film, television and multimedia specialties, all of which I had always wanted to explore,” shares the songstress. Immersed in the arts fully, she became part of an all-female Reggae band called “Women Ah Run Tings.” The group, producing a collage of music with Dancehall, Roots, R&B, Rock and Hip-Hop influences, caught the attention of many and ultimately became four-time Canadian Reggae Award Nominees. Not only did the group open up for artists like Burning Spear and Beenie Man, their videos debuted on Much Music, Canada’s #1 Music Video Channel. In the group, Tolu was known as “Tini” and she gained an extensive opportunity to hone her songwriting and singing skills, as she soon became the ensemble’s lead soul vocalist.
Simultaneously while pursuing her music career, she obtained her Bachelors of Fine Arts Honors Degree in Visual Arts Communication Design from York University in Toronto, Canada. While in school, her mother passed away after several cancer treatments in Baltimore, Maryland. TolumiDE continued her studies and upon graduation she sought employment in Baltimore to be with her immediate family and soon enough secured a position as a Graphic Artist for Baltimore’s FOX and Warner Bros affiliate Television Station and began to design motion, still graphics, on-air promotions, marketing and public affairs projects. Shortly after being settled in her design career, TolumiDE joined the nonprofit group, Nigerian Youth Association (NYA), currently known as Afropolitan Youth (AYA), and became part of the team to establish FestAfricaUSA, formerly known as Naija Fest – an African Festival that celebrates and showcases African culture. The artist never strayed too far from creative arts activities, she began to attend open mics and singing engagements within Maryland and Washington, D.C. to fuel her first love for music. She received an invite from Harrison Nwozo C.E.O of Tribe X Entertainment to feature on the Green October Project: Volume I. and with the introduction of Big Lu – a DC based producer – TolumiDE released ‘Because You Know’ as the feature track for the project. The single gained much recognition within the African Entertainment industry and earned her the award for Best Female R&B Artist at the 2006 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. In 2007, TolumiDE released the EP titled ‘Specialty’ with six tracks including the hit single ‘Because You Know’.
By Fall 2009 – Spring 2010, TolumiDE was in the studio working on a debut album project with producers and musicians – Blaise Tangelo, Terry Poindexter, John Bashengezi, Ngouma Lokito, Erik Dennis, Mark Baker, Alan Gaffere, The Ogunfiditimi Brothers. The full-length project, My Love, was released May 2010, as an Urban RnB/Soul project with elements of World (Afro-Pop), Gospel, Jazz and Reggae. Throughout the twelve tracks, all penned by the artist herself, TolumiDE bares her musical soul and takes the listener on an emotive and telling journey of her life and her love.
The accompanying video, for the title track ‘My Love’ directed by Tayo Abereoje from Black Royal Pictures received rotation on MTV Base, Channel O (South Africa), Trace TV (Europe), Gospel Music Channel (USA), MBOA TV, Nigezie and ONE Gospel TV and many online outlets. The video earned numerous award recognitions including Channel O Music Video Awards (South Africa) Most Gifted R&B nomination, Artscape SOUND-OFF Competition Winner, MOAMA – Africa Music Video Awards Nomination for Best Diaspora Song and WAMA (Washington Area Musicians) Nominee for Gospel/Inspirational Vocalist & Recording. The Album packaged as an enhanced CD with bonus screen savers and karaoke instrumentals also received a nomination at the Covenant Awards from the Gospel Music Association Canada in the Urban/R&B/Soul Album of the year.
With national success of her releases, Specialty and My Love, for Valentine’s Day 2012, BET International 106 & Park exclusively premiered the ‘For Me’ music video, which was the lead single from forthcoming release. TolumiDE’s follow up single & music video release “More Than You’ll Ever Know” featured award-winning Ghanaian Hip Hop artist, D-Black Da Ghana Bwouy. A sultry love song declaring true love ‘Me Do Wo’, in the midst of common challenges couples face every day.
Unveiled in TolumiDE follow up album “Mama Sunshine”, a well rounded cultural experience as TolumiDE sings in English and native language Yoruba, explores acoustic instruments and collaborates with major African talents -Toby Foyeh (Nigeria), who co-wrote Mama Sunshine and Ikoyi Ikeja and Jaja Basheghezi (Congo) who worked with TolumiDE to Producer the music. Listeners journey through themes of encouragement, self-assurance, survival, nostalgia and love in an extended acoustic version of Your Arms produced with Grammy nominated James McKinney. Your Arms (Fun Mi Layo), the album’s first single, is continuing to make waves on various playlists and was followed up with a music video for an Afro-soul dance version of the song set in Nassau, Bahamas directed by Lavado Stubbs provides the perfect backdrop to display happy love and the alluring lyrics of the hook “Fun Mi Layo,” which translates to “You give me joy.” TolumiDE says “the songs featured share hopes and realities of living as a woman and an African in diaspora”. “Mama Sunshine” serves as an appetizer placed in an intimate setting to get taste buds ready for the main course to come in next studio album “Suya Soul”.
TolumiDE’s Performance repertoire continues to soar locally and internationally as a solo act with her band of musicians at a number of events hosted by Non-profits, Educational Institutes, Government Agencies and Embassies, Festivals, Conferences, Church, Jazz Lounges and Private events. She is ever ready to share her message of love and culture and ever present as she expands on the fusion of Urban Contemporary R&B/Soul, Gospel Jazz and African music. She’s been recognized for her contribution to the Nigerian Music Industry with numerous awards and media features. Excited about her brand and future, she is determined to continue making her mark in the African music and cultural media worldwide.
“I’ve always loved to sing, dance, and entertain. It all stared at a really young age during my times living in Nigeria as a teen and in Toronto during undergrad studies ever more now as i create and share experiences, reflections and influences in my music. I have been blessed to independently create albums – Specialty, My Love, Mama Sunshine and receive awards, nominations, national recognition and international performance experience. My hope is to invigorate soul music with a fresh ethnic sound that enlightens listeners about contemporary African culture and brings sentimental grooves to old and youthful audiences.” – TolumiDE
Born in Toronto, raised in Lagos and now in Washington, D.C., TolumiDE (pronounced toe–lu-mee-day) exudes great lyrical finesse, eclectic style and dynamic performance energy sharing music she describes as “Suya Soul”. Her stage name is a collaboration of her last name Olumide and her first name Tolulope meaning “Thank you God” in Yoruba language and her influences include acts within R&B, Gospel and Classic Soul genres such as Sade, Whitney Houston, Brandy, Bebe & Cece Winans; and Africa Pop stars as, Onyeka Owenu and Angelique Kidjo. TolumiDE accolades include winning the Best R&B Female Artist at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards, opening for Les Nubians at the Howard Theatre, Such at City WInery, Salif Keita at the Toronto Jazz Festival, singing with Toby Foyeh and Africa Orchestra and performing at a wide range of international fairs as Cherry Blossom Festival, FestAfrica, MusikFest, 202 Creates and Visual Collaborative. In addition, she has had the opportunity to headline shows at the Legendary Blues Alley in DC. TolumiDE soars as a female vocalist with audience grabbing performances, rave reviews and multiple awards.
I describe my music as “suya soul,” a phrase I coined myself to describe the fusion of contemporary R&B with African pop music. Suya, being a popular spicy grilled kebab skewer indigenous to Nigeria and many West African countries, represents the alternative music flavor I offer to listeners who love soulful music.
– TolumiDE
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