Kayo Vibes: The Boy Who Built with Cartons Now Dreams of Building a Music Career
By Jonah Fubara, YENAGOA –Â From childhood creativity to musical ambition, Kayode Adegoke’s journey is a story of talent, resilience and a mother’s unwavering belief in her son’s dreams.
Before Kayode Adegoke discovered the power of his voice, he was already a little creator with big ideas. Armed with discarded cartons and an imaginative mind, he built miniature objects, including fans, turning an entire room in his family home into a workshop of childhood inventions.
Today, the young man, popularly known as Kayo Vibes, has traded cartons for microphones and childhood inventions for musical compositions. But the creativity that distinguished him as a child remains at the heart of his ambition to become a recognised name in Nigeria’s music industry.
For his mother, Ebunoluwa Adegoke, the journey is a familiar story of a talent that was evident long before the applause, awards and public recognition began.
She recalls an incident from Kayode’s childhood that remains deeply etched in her memory. One day, while he was away on an errand, his father gathered the objects he had painstakingly constructed from cartons and burnt them. On returning home to discover that his creations had been destroyed, the young Kayode reportedly cried uncontrollably.
But rather than abandon his creative instincts, he appeared to find another outlet for his imagination.
His mother noticed that he began spending more time thinking, writing in a long notebook and singing behind closed doors. What initially appeared to be solitary childhood activities gradually became the foundation of his musical journey.
The defining moment came in 2024, when Kayode was in Senior Secondary School Three. At a school talent show, his friends encouraged him to step forward and demonstrate his singing ability.
He eventually took the stage, impressed the audience and won an award as the best singer.
For Ebunoluwa, that recognition was more than a school prize. It was confirmation that her son had discovered something he genuinely loved and could potentially build a future around.
“Kayode usually locks himself indoors, singing. One day, there was an event at his school, and his friends urged him to come out and sing to showcase his talent,” she recalled.
Since then, Kayo Vibes has gradually embraced music as a career path, drawing inspiration largely from personal experiences, particularly love and relationships.
The Osun State-born artiste from Iwo Local Government Area believes that music becomes more meaningful when listeners can identify their own experiences in the stories being told.
His interest in love songs stems from personal relationship experiences, which he transforms into lyrics and melodies that explore emotions, affection and the complexities of human relationships.
With about six songs already produced, including Ride for Love, Nude Taker, No Confession and Time, he is steadily building his repertoire while working on new releases.
Although he has yet to produce an album, the young singer is conscious of the need to evolve, improve his songwriting and discover a distinctive musical identity.
For him, becoming a successful artiste goes beyond recording songs. It requires understanding audiences, adapting to changing musical tastes and remaining consistent even when recognition and financial rewards are slow to come.
That consistency, however, comes at a cost.
Like many emerging musicians without the backing of established record labels or professional management, Kayo Vibes faces the difficult task of financing his ambition while meeting his personal needs.
He currently relies on paid employment to fund his music, using his monthly salary to pay for studio sessions. His mother also contributes to keeping his musical dream alive.
Promotion is another challenge. As an independent artiste, he produces and shares promotional videos online, relying on family members, friends and a small circle of supporters to help circulate his music.
He has no manager or professional music promoter because he cannot yet afford their services.
He also speaks of the frustration of attending entertainment events where his name appears on promotional posters but he is not eventually given the opportunity to perform. On some occasions, he said, artistes are required to pay before being allowed on stage.
Despite these experiences, he has refused to abandon his ambition.
His emergence as Most Promising Young Artiste of the Year at the Bayelsa Media Awards (BMA) has provided a welcome boost, giving recognition to his efforts and strengthening his belief that his music career can grow beyond its present limitations.
The award is particularly significant to a young musician who understands how difficult it can be for emerging talents to attract attention in an industry dominated by established names.
Asked about his dream collaboration, Kayo Vibes identifies Olamide, explaining that the Nigerian music star’s versatility and ability to explore different musical expressions would complement his own storytelling approach.
But beyond collaborations and industry recognition, his ultimate ambition is to create music that gives people a reason to connect with their own stories.
He hopes that within the next five years, he will be performing on major stages before large audiences, with his songs reaching listeners far beyond his immediate environment.
His mother shares that optimism. According to her, people who have encountered his talent have continued to invite him to perform at different events, including requests to sing Yoruba songs and remix existing lyrics and popular songs.
She believes her son has the ability to go further if given the right exposure and support.
This is why the Adegokes are appealing to the governments of Rivers, Osun and Bayelsa states, as well as corporate organisations, music promoters and well-meaning individuals, to invest in the young artiste through financial assistance, professional guidance and opportunities to perform at public events and entertainment programmes.
Their appeal also raises a broader question about the future of emerging Nigerian musicians: how many gifted young people abandon their dreams simply because they cannot afford the opportunities required to develop their talents?
For Kayo Vibes, the journey is still unfolding. He is yet to discover the full extent of his musical identity, build a substantial fan base or secure the professional support that could accelerate his career.
But the boy who once transformed discarded cartons into objects of imagination is still creating. Only this time, his materials are lyrics, melodies and personal experiences, while his ambition is to build a musical career that inspires others.
And perhaps, like the childhood inventions his mother still remembers, the best of his creations are yet to come.
