Bawa ALA

Early Life & Background

I'm originally from Delta State, but I was born and bred in Okwelle Waterside, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. I grew up in a very modest home during the early 2000s, a time when cult clashes between rival gangs were prevalent in the area. Even with everything happening around us, music had a way of bringing families and neighbours together. It created moments of connection and gave people something to share when they needed it most.

That environment, along with my family, has had a huge influence on who I am and the music I make. A lot of what I create comes from what I've seen, experienced and felt growing up. Those experiences have become part of my story, shaping the way I see life and express myself through music. In many ways, the environment I came from continues to find its way into everything I create.

Musical Beginnings

Music has always been part and parcel of me. From home to school to church, there was always something that brought me into contact with music. Funny enough, I always ran from the choir, but I could never run away from my love for music. I always thought I would end up becoming a writer, until I met my producer at university. He helped me discover the composition and expression side of the art, showing me that I could use music to say the things I couldn't always put into words. I've been making music since high school, initially just for fun and because I loved it, but in 2024, I began taking it professionally.

Music also found me at a time when I needed it most. When I had drifted away from the structure of my family, music was the one thing that gave my life meaning and helped me find my direction again. So music can't really let me go, and I don't think I want it to. If I follow its rules and stay true to what it asks of me, I believe there's a reason I'm here. I'm just a messenger delivering the message.

Artistic Evolution

Every moment is important to me, but more than anything, seeing people connect with the music I make means everything. My influences come from different places and different generations. I've been inspired by artists like 2Baba, Burna Boy, Duncan Mighty, Timaya, Lil Wayne, Omah Lay, Royal Boys of Rumuodomaya, Barrister Smooth, Ajebo Hustlers, 1da Banton and Asake. All of these influences have contributed in different ways to how I understand and approach music.

My sound moves through Dancehall, Rap, Afro-fusion and Highlife. I don't want to put myself in one box because the more I experience, the more I experiment, and the more I experiment, the more my sound evolves. Every experience teaches me something new, and I allow those experiences to shape the music and the artist I continue to become.