{{Short description|American musician and actor}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | name = Oyibo Rebel | birth_name = Fares Boulos | alias = Farastafarian | birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S. | origin = Lagos, Nigeria | genre = {{hlist|Afrobeats|Yoruba|rap}} | instrument = vocals | years_active = 2012–present }}
'''Fares Boulos''', known professionally as '''Oyibo Rebel''', is an American musician and actor based in Lagos, Nigeria. He has released music blending Afrobeats and rap with Yoruba influences. He is the brother of Michael Boulos.
== Early life == Fares Boulos was born in Houston, Texas. His Lebanese father, Massad Boulos, is a business executive active in Nigeria, while his Burkina-faso born Lebanese mother, Sarah Boulos, founded the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Alake |first=Motolani |date=10 March 2020 |title=Meet Oyibo Rebel, the Lagos-bred Lebanese rapper dishing out Yoruba bars [Interview] |url=https://www.pulse.ng/articles/entertainment/music/oyibo-rebel-speaks-about-being-nigerian-obsession-with-fela-getting-inspired-by-2024081621343627982 |access-date=2024-12-01 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Portee |first=Allyson |date=2020-11-11 |title=Oyibo Rebel is The Lebanese Afrobeats Artist With A Foot In Two Continents |url=https://www.gqmiddleeast.com/culture/oyibo-rebel-lebanese-afrobeats-interview-2020 |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=GQ Middle East |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Okanlawon |first=Ajani |date=2021-01-24 |title=Meet Oyibo Rebel, Trump’s daughter’s future brother-in-law |url=https://www.qed.ng/meet-oyibo-rebel-trumps-daughters-future-brother-in-law/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=QED.NG |language=en-US}}</ref> At the age of five, Boulos moved with his family to Lagos, Nigeria, where he attended the French school, Ecole Française Louis PASTEUR and later transferred to the American International School of Lagos alongside his siblings.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
Boulos described moving to Lagos as a culture shock. He learned French, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba and engaged with local customs during his formative years.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2022-03-25 |title=Oyibo Rebel: Naija babes have a place in my heart |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/oyibo-rebel-naija-babes-have-a-place-in-my-heart/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2024-12-01 |newspaper=The Nation|language=en-US}}</ref> He later pursued higher education in Los Angeles, California, where he studied liberal arts with a concentration in theatre. Following this, he moved to London to complete a master’s degree, focusing on acting and performance.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
== Career == Boulos began exploring music during his teenage years, inspired by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. In Lagos, he attended events at the New Afrika Shrine and performed Fela’s songs during informal gatherings.<ref name=":0" /> During his time in Los Angeles, he wrote and performed a play titled ''Abami Eda and The Curse of The Black Gold'', in which he portrayed multiple characters, including Fela Kuti.<ref name=":0" />
In London, Boulos participated in acting projects, including an uncredited role in ''Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald''<ref name=":1" /> and a brief non-speaking role in the Netflix series ''The Crown''.<ref name=":2" />
In 2012, Boulos returned to Nigeria and released a single titled "One Day" under the stage name Farastafarian.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> This name, derived from his interactions with Rastafarian communities at Tarkwa Bay in Lagos, was later changed to Oyibo Rebel. The new stage name reflected his intention to challenge stereotypes about immigrants in Nigeria and highlight his connection to the culture.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
Under the name Oyibo Rebel, Boulos released the single "Oju Mi Bloody," featuring Mz Kiss and Chinko Ekun. His music combines elements of Afrobeats, rap, and Yoruba influences. He worked with Nigerian producers T-Weezy and Killertunes to create tracks that incorporate both Nigerian and global musical styles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
=== Discography === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title |- | 2020 || Oju Mi Bloody (feat. Chinko Ekun & Mz Kiss) |- | 2020 || Rosa (feat. Skales) |- | 2020 || The Storm |- | 2020 || Do Without You |- | 2021 || Familia (Freestyle) |- | 2021 || Aye Dun Gan |}
== Personal life == Boulos considers Nigeria his home.<ref name=":2" /> He is married to Alisa Boulos.<ref name=":3" /> His brother Michael Boulos is a business executive married to American socialite Tiffany Trump.<ref name=":2" />
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rebel, Oyibo}} Category:Living people Category:American emigrants to Nigeria Category:Nigerian people of Lebanese descent Category:American people of Lebanese descent Category:American people of French descent Category:Musicians from Lagos Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:Musicians from Houston Category:Actors from Houston Category:Actors from Lagos Category:Afrobeats musicians Category:Boulos family Category:Year of birth missing (living people)