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Africa best sound designer, film composer

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The entire journey of bringing a movie to life, from its inception as an idea to its polished final form, is known as movie production. This comprehensive process is typically divided into three key stages. It all begins with pre-production, the meticulous planning phase where the script is locked, actors are cast, filming locations are found, budgets are set, and the crew is brought together, laying out every creative and logistical detail before shooting commences. Next comes production, often referred to as principal photography, which is the actual filming period where directors, actors, cinematographers, and the crew collaborate on set to capture all the scenes as planned. Finally, in post-production, the raw footage undergoes transformation through editing, with sound design, visual effects, color correction, and musical scores added to sculpt the film into its finished state, ready for audiences to enjoy.

Sound design in film is the unseen magic, the very breath of a movie’s world, crafting an auditory experience that resonates deep within the viewer’s soul. The true alchemy unfolds in post-production. Here, the sound designer, a maestro of whispers and roars, orchestrates a symphony of effects. With foley artists conjuring the tactile echoes of footsteps, sound editors meticulously shaping every audio nuance, and re-recording mixers delicately balancing dialogue with a chorus of effects and music, the soundscape comes alive. Through tools like Pro Tools, layers upon layers of sound are woven, all bending to the director’s vision. Hand-in-hand with the composer, the sound designer ensures that every note, every rustle, every voice elevates the emotion, dictates the rhythm, and breathes life into the narrative, transforming mere visuals into a truly immersive dream. Like a rose with irresistible layers, Tolu Obanro isn’t only embedded with these arts, but he unfolds with fragrance and grace. He’s that good that he can’t be ignored.

Tolu Obanro, also known as Tyanx, is a Nigerian music composer, producer, and sound designer who shifted from a career in oil and gas to music, initially producing gospel tracks for artists like Mike Abdul and Monique. Tolu Obanro, now has become a key figure in Nollywood, creating impactful scores for major films such as “A Tribe Called Judah” (2023), the first Nollywood movie to earn ₦1 billion, along with “Gangs of Lagos” (2023), “Jagun Jagun” (2023), and others like “King of Boys: The Return of the King” (2021) and “Battle on Buka Street” (2022). His work, influenced by composers like Hans Zimmer and Ludwig Göransson, has earned him a 2022 Nigerians Achievers Award and three AMVCA nominations for Best Soundtrack, solidifying his reputation as a vital contributor to Nigerian cinema’s emotional depth.

In the thriving soundchest of Nollywood, 2024 and 2025 bore witness to the brilliance of the Nigerian pristine sound designer, and score composer, Tolu Obanro, whose compositions made magnificent a diverse slate of acclaimed film and television projects. In 2024, his influence brought emotional depth and sonic texture to productions such as the gripping TV mini-series “Seven Doors,” the heartfelt “A Heart on the Line,” and the critically praised drama “Thinline.” He also infused rhythmic flair into the fan-favorite “Everybody Loves Jenifa,” the culturally rich epic “Lisabi: The Uprising,” and the compelling story of “Queen Lateefah.” Continuing his artistic momentum into 2025, Tolu wove his art through the soundscape of a new wave of titles including the political drama, “Her Excellency,” the suspenseful “Red Circle,” the animated tale “Makemation,” the vibrant “Aso Ebi Diaries,” the romantic “Finding Me,” and the quirky comedy “Mo fe Wèrè (I Married A Crazy Person).” With each score, Tolu’s soundscapes not only elevated storytelling but also reinforced his standing as one of Nollywood’s most sought-after musical voices.

As a post-production expert, Tolu Obanro’s astute grip of sound design, along with his expertise in film music composition, soundscoring, and mixing, places him on a level as towering as the Burj Khalifa’s height. Fondly known in the industry as Tyanx, he doesn’t just create sound; he sculpts it layer by layer, frequency by frequency, until every auditory moment breathes with intention. His scores do more than accompany a scene; they speak, echo, and guide emotion like an invisible narrator. In his hands, silence becomes strategic, and noise becomes narrative. Whether it’s the subtle hum beneath dialogue or the swelling crescendo that defines a climax, Tolu ensures every decibel serves the story. His sound design doesn’t just fill the space — it defines it, transforming visual storytelling into an immersive, soul-reaching experience.

What is being said about the gift of a man is nothing but one of the profound truths in the symphonies of motivation. This is especially true in the story of Tolu Obanro, whose talent has led to collaborations with some of Nollywood’s most respected filmmakers. Working with directors like Niyi Akinmolayan, Jade Osiberu, and Funke Akindele has given Tolu the opportunity to bring his unique sound to films that matter. His ability to understand a director’s vision and translate it into music and atmosphere has made him a trusted creative partner. Whether it’s a lighthearted scene or a tense moment, his compositions and sound design have added emotion and clarity to the storytelling. These collaborations have not only enriched the films themselves but also strengthened Tolu’s reputation as one of the industry’s most reliable post-production experts. To show his continued essence, his impacts in 2024 and 2025 have grown beyond measures, echoing across film sets, sound stages, and editing suites, where his name commands respect and admiration. In a time where content is abundant but excellence is rare, Tolu remains a beacon of consistency and creativity; a proof that when talent meets purpose, the results are nothing short of extraordinary.

Tolu Obanro’s contribution goes beyond individual projects. He has played an important role in improving the overall quality of sound in Nollywood films. His work has shown that a well-designed score and thoughtful audio can transform the entire viewing experience. By consistently delivering clean mixes, emotional soundscapes, and fitting musical scores, he has helped raise the technical standard of the industry. This progress has made Nollywood films more appealing to international audiences, who now expect a certain level of polish in both visuals and sound. Tolu’s influence is helping shape a new era in Nigerian cinema, one where sound is treated not as an afterthought, but as an essential part of storytelling.

Digressing briefly into psychology, one can trace the foremost theories of reward to Pavlov and other Behaviourists, who revealed that rewards stimulate the brain’s dopamine system, triggering a surge whenever one is recognised for an action or skill. In that light, one of the finest ways to appreciate Tolu Obanro, also known as Tyanx, is through his well-deserved nominations and accolades. A celebrated Nigerian music composer and sound designer, Obanro was nominated three times for Best Soundtrack/Music Score at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) before finally clinching the award in 2025 for his emotive score on Seven Doors, a film that garnered 11 nominations. His excellence has also earned him the Nigerians Achievers Award in 2022 and a place among the Top 100 Influential Nigerian Gospel Personalities in 2023, affirming not just his technical brilliance but his broad influence across entertainment and faith-based creative spaces.

In Nollywood, while we often focus on the amazing pictures and stories, it’s actually the sound that gives a movie its heart, and Tolu Obanro is one of the best at making that happen. He started out making gospel music and now he creates the sounds for big movies, showing how much talent, hard work, and passion he has. With every film, he helps us not just hear the movie, but really feel it deep down. As Nollywood gets bigger around the world, people like Obanro, who truly understand sound, are making sure that African stories stay memorable. He’s not just a sound designer; he’s a sound storyteller whose music, quiet moments, and big sound bursts will be remembered for many years.

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