Kunmie
Kunmie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Oluwabukunmi Peter Abule Egba, Lagos, Nigeria |
| Other name | Oluwabukunmi Ariyibi |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2019 –present |
Oluwabukunmi Peter, known professionally as Kunmie, is a Nigerian Afrobeats and R&B singer and songwriter based in Lagos. He began producing music in 2019 and worked as a songwriter for other artists prior to releasing material under his own name.[1] His 2025 single "Arike" reached number one on the Official Nigeria Top 100 singles chart and peaked at number five on the UK Official Afrobeats Chart, where it spent thirteen weeks.[2][3] The song was included in the playlist of BBC Radio 1Xtra's Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show in March 2025.[4] In 2026, he was nominated for Most Promising Artist of the Year and Best African Artist in African R&B and Soul at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).[5]
Early life
Kunmie was born Oluwabukunmi Peter and grew up in Abule Egba, Lagos, before moving to Agege, also in Lagos, where he has stated he became aware of his capacity to make music.[1] He has stated that he made his first song while in secondary school, in Senior Secondary year three, and that the experience led him to identify music as his primary interest.[1]
He enrolled in a Business Administration programme at a university but left after his first year, stating that he felt a significant decline in his musical output during the period he spent away from Lagos. Following his departure from the institution, he spent approximately one year studying poetry and listening to a range of artists, including Kamauu and Lord Huron, as part of a deliberate effort to develop a more distinctive musical approach. He described his resulting style as a fusion of Afrobeats with soul, R&B, and elements of country music.[1]
Career
Songwriting and early work
Prior to releasing music under his own name, Kunmie worked as a songwriter for other artists. He stated that he wrote regularly for Oxlade and attended music camps, describing his participation in songwriting sessions as a means of learning the practices of the music industry. He stated that he attempted to sell the song "Arike" to Oxlade during this period, but that Oxlade advised him to retain it for himself.[1]
Arike and breakthrough (2025)
"Arike" was released on 15 February 2025.[6] Kunmie stated that the song circulated initially through TikTok, where a video posted at the time of recording accumulated views rapidly despite his having approximately 200 followers on the platform at the time of posting.[7] The song debuted at number one on the Spotify Nigeria Viral 50 chart, reached number two on the Spotify Global Viral Chart, and generated over 186,000 user-generated videos on TikTok.[6] It subsequently reached number one on the Official Nigeria Top 100 singles chart, where it spent at least three consecutive weeks.[2] It also peaked at number five on the UK Official Afrobeats Chart and spent thirteen weeks on that chart.[3] The Guardian Nigeria reported that the song had accumulated over 80 million digital plays as of February 2026.[1]
In July 2025, a remix of "Arike" was released featuring Nigerian singer Simi and British singer-songwriter Mabel.[6] The Guardian Nigeria noted that the song had by that stage achieved over 6.25 million streams on Spotify.[6]
Before We Became Strangers EP
Following the release of "Arike", Kunmie released a four-track extended play titled Before We Became Strangers. The Guardian Nigeria described the project as narrative-driven, noting its use of consistent storytelling across its tracks. Kunmie has stated that the EP was written in response to a specific personal relationship and was intended to function as a complete story from its first track to its last.[7]
Collaborations and subsequent releases
In addition to the Arike remix with Simi and Mabel, Kunmie collaborated with Bella Shmurda on a track titled "Sanity".[1] He released "Solace II" with Joeboy in early 2026, described by The Lagos Review as a stripped-back meditation on unresolved emotional difficulty.[8] In March 2026, he released the single "Julie".[8] In July 2026, he released "Confessions", described by Independent as a Yoruba-language love song.[9]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Most Promising Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2026 | All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Best African Artist, Duo or Group in African R&B and Soul | Nominated |
Discography
Extended plays
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Before We Became Strangers |
Selected singles
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | "Arike" | No. 1 Official Nigeria Top 100; No. 5 UK Official Afrobeats Chart |
| 2025 | "Arike" (remix) | Featuring Simi and Mabel |
| 2025 | "Sanity" | Featuring Bella Shmurda |
| 2026 | "Solace II" | Featuring Joeboy |
| 2026 | "Julie" | |
| 2026 | "Confessions" |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ihekire, Chinonso (16 February 2026). "Inside Kunmie's enchanting love rhythms". The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- 1 2 "Kunmie's "Arike" Clocks a Third Week at No. 1". Turntable Charts. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- 1 2 "Kunmie hits – Official Afrobeats Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ↑ "The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi". BBC Radio 1Xtra. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ↑ Fadehan, Abdul-hafeez (12 January 2026). "Full List: Rema, Burna Boy, Qing Madi, Chella Shine at AFRIMA 2026 Awards". TVC News. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Fasan, Yewande (18 July 2025). "Kunmie elevates 'Arike' with Simi, Mabel collaboration". The Nation. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- 1 2 Fasan, Yewande (26 June 2025). "I found music at the worst time of my life – Kunmie". The Nation. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- 1 2 "Kunmie finds his "Julie" in tender new love song". The Lagos Review. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ↑ Falade, Tomi (2 July 2026). "Kunmie Lays His Heart Bare On New Hit Song, 'Confessions'". Independent. Retrieved 10 July 2026.