Kabusa Oriental Choir

Kabusa Oriental Choir is a popular Nigerian choral group celebrated for reimagining contemporary Afrobeats and mainstream pop songs in the traditional style of an African orthodox church choir. Founded by Austin Chinemezu Nwamara in 2019, the group has carved out a highly unique space in the music industry by blending musical comedy with exceptional vocal harmonies.

They are best known for their viral smash hit “Valentine is Coming” and their choral renditions of popular tracks like “Soso” and “Soweto”. By humorously bridging the gap between sacred choral arrangements and secular pop culture, Kabusa Oriental Choir has cultivated a massive international audience, transitioning from an internet sensation into a highly respected, award winning musical act.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Background

The concept for Kabusa Oriental Choir was born out of a moment of casual inspiration in early 2019. Austin Chinemezu Nwamara, who was working at a law firm in Abuja, Nigeria, was riding in a taxi with a colleague. During the ride, he began wondering what the popular secular hit “Baba” by DJ Spinall and Kizz Daniel would sound like if it were performed by a typical Nigerian Catholic church choir. He playfully sang his improvised version in the car, prompting intense laughter from both his colleague and the driver. Recognizing the entertainment value of the concept, Nwamara decided to bring the idea to life and quickly booked a recording session with a local music producer.

How Their Music Career Started

Nwamara officially launched the choir on March 11, 2019, when he published their very first content online. The debut video featured a choral mashup cover of “Yeba” and “Baba”, recorded in a studio and filmed with a mobile phone while the singers wore traditional choir robes. The video was posted on Instagram and almost instantly went viral. It was widely shared across blogs, television stations, and social media platforms, deeply resonating with African Catholics who recognized the familiar liturgical singing style. The unexpected success of this debut clip, coupled with public recognition from the original artists, immediately thrust the newly formed Kabusa Oriental Choir into the digital spotlight.

Career and Breakthrough

Following their initial viral success, the choir transitioned from a novelty internet act into a consistent musical force. Their major international breakthrough occurred in February 2020 with the release of an original comedic track titled “Valentine is Coming”. The song resonated massively with audiences leading up to Valentine’s Day and shot the choir to global prominence. It received significant airplay, notably featuring on BBC 1Xtra radio in the United Kingdom. The track became such a cultural staple that the group established a tradition of releasing a new, updated verse for the song every year in February.

Musical Style and Influences

Kabusa Oriental Choir is celebrated for its highly specific and creative musical niche. They specialize in taking mainstream Afrobeats, pop, and hip hop tracks and rearranging them to mimic the precise auditory experience of a rural African village church choir or a solemn Catholic mass. Their primary musical influences include Gregorian chants, Handel classical liturgical compositions, the Maasai tribe singers, and iconic gospel acts like Kirk Franklin. By maintaining a serious, straight faced delivery while singing secular or humorous lyrics, they create a brilliant contrast that defines their signature music comedy style.

Notable Songs and Albums

Beyond their defining hit “Valentine is Coming”, the choir has released an extensive catalog of highly successful covers and original projects. They achieved massive streaming numbers with their choir version of Omah Lay’s “Soso”, which exploded in popularity on social media platforms and garnered tens of millions of streams globally. They also released a popular cover of “Soweto” and dropped original projects like the “Liturgy” album. Furthermore, they used their platform for public awareness, writing and releasing “The Corona Song” in 2020 to spread vital information during the global pandemic.

Major Collaborations and Recognition

As their popularity grew, Kabusa Oriental Choir began collaborating with major mainstream artists. They have featured on original tracks alongside prominent acts such as Kizz Daniel, Zlatan Ibile, Ladipoe, Waje, and DJ Neptune. They have also worked with international acts like Folamour and Sirens of Lesbos. Their unique blend of music and humor was officially recognized by the entertainment industry in 2023 when they won the award for Best in Music Comedy at the second edition of the Humour Awards in Nigeria.

Current Career and Recent Activities

Today, Kabusa Oriental Choir continues to expand its reach far beyond internet videos. Operating out of Nigeria, the group boasts hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on major streaming platforms. In August 2024, they reached a new milestone as a live performance act by headlining The African Beats Festival in Poland. By consistently delivering high quality vocal performances wrapped in cultural humor, Austin Chinemezu Nwamara and the Kabusa Oriental Choir have successfully pioneered a new lane for comedic choral music in Africa.