{{Short description|Nigerian film composer}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Tolu Obanro | image = | alt = | caption = | pronunciation = | birth_name = Tolulope Obanro | birth_date = | birth_place = Ilorin, Kwara State | other_names = Tyanx | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * Federal University of Technology, Minna ({{Small|BSc}}) * National Broadcast Academy }} | years_active = 2019 — present | occupation = Film score composer | notable_works = | footnotes = <ref name=Lead/> }}
'''Tolulope Obanro''' known professionally as '''Tolu Obanro''' is a Nigerian film composer. He created the scores for ''Gangs of Lagos'' (2023), ''Jagun Jagun'' (2023), and ''A Tribe Called Judah'' (2023) which became the first Nollywood movie to hit ₦1 billion at the box office.
== Early life and education == Tolulope Obanro was born in Ilorin, Kwara State but spent most of his childhood in Lokoja, Kogi State where he schooled at Government Science Secondary School for his secondary school. He earned a bachelor's degree in Geology from Federal University of Technology, Minna before proceeding to the National Broadcast Academy in Lagos State.<ref name=Tribune>{{cite news|title=The magnificent Nigerian Film composer called Tolu Obanro|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/the-magnificent-nigerian-film-composer-called-tolu-obanro/|first=Bioluwatife|last=Akinyemi|date=18 September 2023|newspaper=Nigerian Tribune|access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref>
== Career == Tolu Obanro worked at an oil and gas company but left the industry for music.<ref name=Country>{{Cite web|title=How Tolu Obanro, Nollywood's Top Composer, Crafts the Sounds of Its Biggest Hits|url=https://opencountrymag.com/how-tolu-obanro-nollywoods-top-composer-crafts-the-sounds-of-its-biggest-hits/|first=Paula|last=Willie-Okafor|date=26 February 2024|website=Open Country Mag|access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref>
Tolu Obanro had previously worked in music production for gospel artists such as Mike Abdul, Kenny Kore and Monique before proceeding to music production and film scoring.<ref name=Lead>{{Cite news|title=Tolu Obanro: Crafting Cinematic Soundscapes for Nigerian Blockbusters|url=https://leadership.ng/tolu-obanro-crafting-cinematic-soundscapes-for-nigerian-blockbusters/|first=Luqman|last=Gambari|newspaper=Leadership|access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref>
After scoring for some YouTube videos, Obanro first feature film was ''Your Excellency'' (2019) which was followed by the series ''King of Boys: The Return of the King'' in 2021.<ref name=Country/>
Obanro met Niyi Akinmolayan where he began collaboration in the creation of ''Prophetess'' (2021) and ''Jagun Jagun'' (2023).<ref name=Tribune/> He has also collaborated with Jade Osiberu for ''Brotherhood'' (2022) and ''Gangs of Lagos'' (2023) and also on Funke Akindele's ''Battle on Buka Street'' (2022).<ref name=Pulse>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/jagun-jagun-how-tolu-obanro-created-original-sound-for-netflix-original/pl2p367|title=How Tolu Obanro created the original sound, music for Netflix's ''Jagun Jagun''|first=Inemesit|last=Udodiong|date=10 August 2023|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref>
Obanro became acclaimed for his scoring of ''A Tribe Called Judah'' (2023) which was the first Nollywood movie to hit ₦1 billion at the box office.<ref name=Lead/>
Obanro cites Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson and M. M. Keeravani as his major influences.<ref name=Country/>
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref |- | rowspan="4" |2023 | rowspan="4" |Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |rowspan=3|Best Soundtrack |King of Thieves (Agesinkole) |{{nominated}} | |- |Battle on Buka Street |{{nominated}} | |- |L.I.F.E |{{nominated}} | |- |Best Sound Editor |L.I.F.E |{{nominated}} | |- |rowspan=3|2025 |rowspan=2|Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |rowspan=2|Best Music/Score |Lisabi: The Uprising |{{nominated}} | |- |Seven Doors |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Television |first=Channels |date=2025-05-10 |title=AMVCA 2025 Awards: Full List Of Winners As Lateef Adedimeji's Lisabi Clinches Prizes |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2025/05/10/amvca-2025-awards-full-list-of-winners-as-lateef-adedimejis-lisabi-clinches-prizes/amp/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Channels Television |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- |The Headies |Soundtrack of The Year |A Tribe Called Judah |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adeyanju |first=Adedeji |date=2025-04-27 |title='A Tribe Called Judah' Wins Soundtrack of the Year at 17th Headies Awards |url=https://thenet.ng/a-tribe-called-judah-wins-soundtrack-of-the-year-headies-awards/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2025-05-07 |language=en-US|newspaper=The NET}}</ref> |}
== Filmography == Source:<ref name=Lead/> * ''Your Excellency'' (2019) * ''King of Boys: The Return of the King'' (2021) * ''Progressive Tailors Club'' (2021) * ''Prophetess'' (2021) * ''Charge and Bail'' (2021) * ''Hey You'' (2022) * ''King of Thieves'' (2022) * ''Brotherhood'' * ''Battle on Buka Street'' (2022) * ''Palava'' (2022) * ''Gangs of Lagos'' (2023) * ''Nine'' (2023) * ''Jagun Jagun'' (2023) * ''Ada Omo Daddy'' (2023) * ''House of Secrets'' (2023) * ''Mikolo'' (2023) * ''A Tribe Called Judah'' (2023) * ''Crossroads'' (2024) Behind the scenes (2025)
== References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Obanro, Tolu}} Category:Living people Category:Nigerian record producers Category:Nigerian film score composers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards winners Category:Federal University of Technology, Minna alumni