Lojay is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer who has become one of the recognizable voices in modern Afrobeats. Known for his smooth vocals, emotional songwriting and ability to blend Afrobeats with R&B, amapiano and pop, he has built a growing international audience through songs such as “Monalisa,” “Tonongo,” “MOTO” and “Sensational.”
His career has moved from independent releases and early studio experiments to major collaborations with artists including Sarz, Wizkid, Chris Brown, Davido, Tyla, Feid, Victony and Odeal. His 2025 debut album, XOXO, also marked an important stage in his development as a full-length recording artist.
This article explains what you need to know about Lojay, including his real name, age, background, family, education, music career, popular songs, achievements and the available information about his net worth.
Who Is Lojay?
Lojay is the stage name of Lekan Osifeso Junior, a Nigerian recording artist from Lagos. He was born on April 28, 1996, which makes him 30 years old in 2026. He is associated mainly with Afrobeats, although his music also draws from R&B, Afro-pop, amapiano and other contemporary sounds.
Lojay’s rise is particularly interesting because he did not become famous overnight. He spent years developing his sound, experimenting with music and releasing songs before his major breakthrough came through his collaboration with Nigerian producer Sarz.
Today, he is best known internationally for “Monalisa” and “Sensational,” the Chris Brown song featuring both Davido and Lojay that received a Grammy nomination.
Lojay Real Name
Lojay’s real name is Lekan Osifeso Junior.
His stage name is connected to his real name and initials. Several biographies and music publications identify him by his birth name, Lekan Osifeso Jr.
The name Lojay has now become closely associated with his distinctive vocal style and romantic approach to songwriting.
How Old Is Lojay?
Lojay was born on April 28, 1996. As of September 2026, he is 30 years old.
He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in different parts of Lagos, including Ikorodu. His childhood and family environment played an important role in his eventual interest in music.
Although some online biographies have given different descriptions of his origin, stronger biographical sources consistently identify Lagos as an important part of his upbringing. In an interview with Tirade World, Lojay also described being born in Surulere and later living in Ikorodu.
Lojay’s Early Life and Family Background
Lojay grew up in a family where music was already part of everyday life.
According to an in-depth profile by Al Jazeera, Lojay is the eldest of three children. His mother was a pastor and was involved with gospel music, while his father operated a construction business. Music was therefore present around him from an early age.
Lojay has spoken about watching his father work hard and gradually improve the family’s circumstances. He has also mentioned his younger brother, Suchi, who works as a stylist.
As a child, Lojay was already attracted to music and performance. Al Jazeera reported that he began singing and dancing at a young age and was influenced by performers such as Michael Jackson, while music from his mother’s church environment also shaped his early exposure to sound.
This background helps explain why music eventually became more than a hobby for him.
Lojay’s Education
Before becoming a full-time musician, Lojay pursued higher education.
He initially studied Civil Engineering in Leeds, United Kingdom, but later changed direction and attended the University of Portsmouth. He has spoken about the pressure to complete a credible degree while also developing his music career.
His time as a student also became an important period in his musical development. He started experimenting with beats and recording music while studying.
Rather than abandoning music completely, he gradually became more serious about it. Eventually, his interest in music became strong enough for him to pursue it professionally.
When Did Lojay Start His Music Career?
Lojay’s professional music journey can be traced back to 2016.
During his university years, he began recording and experimenting with music. In an interview, he recalled releasing his early song “Simple Matter” on SoundCloud in 2016.
His early years were not defined by instant fame. He spent time learning how to write, record and produce music while developing a sound that was different from what many other young Nigerian artists were doing.
In 2017, he released his debut EP, Midnight Vibes, which contained songs including “Atarodo,” “Alomo,” “Kele,” “10K Splaw” and “Whine & Bubble.”
He later released songs such as “Ariel” and “Ogogoro” before his career entered a much bigger phase.
Lojay and Sarz: The Breakthrough
One of the most important moments in Lojay’s career came when he began working with Nigerian producer Sarz.
Their collaboration produced the 2021 EP LV N ATTN, a title derived from “Love and Attention.” The project combined Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop and other contemporary influences, with Wizkid appearing on the title track.
The project helped introduce Lojay to a much wider audience.
One of its biggest songs was “Monalisa.” The song eventually became a major breakthrough for Lojay and Sarz and was later given a remix featuring American singer Chris Brown.
The original “Monalisa” was released in June 2021 as part of LV N ATTN. Sarz handled the production, while Lojay contributed vocals and songwriting.
The success of “Monalisa” changed the direction of Lojay’s career. It helped establish him as an artist capable of making commercially successful Afrobeats while maintaining a distinctive vocal identity.
Lojay’s Most Popular Songs
Lojay has released and appeared on numerous songs, but several stand out among the tracks that have helped define his career.
1. Monalisa
“Monalisa” is arguably the song most closely associated with Lojay’s breakthrough.
The original appeared on LV N ATTN, his joint EP with Sarz. Its combination of Afrobeats, amapiano elements, catchy melodies and Lojay’s vocals helped it gain widespread attention.
The later remix featuring Chris Brown took the song to an even larger international audience. The remix reached No. 8 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, giving Lojay an important international chart achievement.
2. Tonongo
“Tonongo” was another important song from the LV N ATTN era. It helped build anticipation around Lojay before “Monalisa” became the project’s biggest commercial success.
The song demonstrated the vocal control and melodic style that would become central to his identity as an artist.
3. MOTO
“MOTO” came from Lojay’s 2023 project, GANGSTER ROMANTIC.
The project explored a different emotional side of the singer. Instead of focusing only on tenderness and romance, Lojay explored heartbreak, emotional toughness and self-protection.
“MOTO” was among the songs that helped introduce listeners to this more confident side of his artistry.
4. Sensational
“Sensational” is one of Lojay’s biggest international collaborations.
The song was released by Chris Brown and features Davido and Lojay. It became particularly important to Lojay because it connected him with two established international names and earned a nomination at the Grammy Awards.
The Recording Academy lists Lojay as a nominee for Best African Music Performance for “Sensational” at the 67th Grammy Awards.
The song did not win the category; Tems won for “Love Me JeJe” at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
5. Arizona
“Arizona” is another recognizable Lojay release from his expanding catalogue and reflects his continued interest in blending contemporary Afrobeats with other musical influences. Apple Music lists it among his top songs.
Lojay’s Albums and EPs
Lojay’s discography has developed through several important projects.
His early EP, Midnight Vibes, arrived in 2017.
He later released LV N ATTN with Sarz in 2021. The project became a major turning point because it contained “Tonongo,” “Monalisa” and the Wizkid-assisted title track.
In 2023, he released GANGSTER ROMANTIC, a seven-track project that explored love, heartbreak, emotional defence and personal growth. Music critics described the project as a meeting point between Lojay’s romantic side and a tougher persona.
His first full-length studio album, XOXO, arrived on October 10, 2025.
The album contains 14 songs and includes collaborations with artists such as Odeal, Feid, Tyla and Victony. Apple Music describes the album as a project built around themes including love, desire, regret and personal growth.
Songs on XOXO include “Salê,” “Tenner,” “Mwah!,” “Shiver,” “Body,” “Miss Mariana,” “Change You Up,” “Jericho,” “Memories,” “Somebody Like You,” “Sawa,” “Suru” and “Alright.”
Lojay and Chris Brown
Lojay’s relationship with Chris Brown is one of the most significant international connections in his career.
Chris Brown first appeared on the remix of “Monalisa,” helping push the song toward a broader global audience.
The pair later appeared together again on “Sensational,” which also featured Davido. The song was nominated for Best African Music Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
The collaboration demonstrated how Lojay’s sound could travel beyond Nigeria and fit naturally into a global pop and R&B environment.
Lojay’s Grammy Nomination
Lojay received his first Grammy nomination through “Sensational,” alongside Chris Brown and Davido.
The song was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 67th Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy confirms that Lojay has one Grammy nomination and no Grammy wins as of 2026.
Although “Sensational” did not win, the nomination was still a major milestone for a relatively young Nigerian artist.
It also placed Lojay among artists helping Nigerian and African music reach wider international audiences.
What Is Lojay’s Music Style?
Lojay’s music is difficult to place in only one category.
His strongest foundation is Afrobeats, but he regularly incorporates elements of R&B, Afro-pop, amapiano and contemporary pop.
His vocal delivery is one of his defining characteristics. He often uses smooth melodies, falsetto-style vocals and emotionally direct songwriting.
Romance is another recurring theme. However, his songs are not limited to straightforward love stories. Projects such as GANGSTER ROMANTIC show his interest in heartbreak, emotional conflict, independence and personal growth.
His 2025 album XOXO continued this emotional approach while expanding his sound toward a broader international pop audience.
Is Lojay Married?
There is no reliable public evidence that Lojay is married as of 2026.
The singer generally keeps much of his private life away from the public eye, so claims about his relationships should be treated carefully unless they come directly from Lojay or a reliable source.
For the same reason, online claims about a specific girlfriend or future marriage should not automatically be treated as confirmed facts.
What Is Lojay’s Net Worth?
Lojay’s exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Several Nigerian entertainment websites have published estimates, but the figures vary considerably. For example, older reports have placed his net worth at figures such as $75,000, while newer websites have published much higher estimates. These numbers generally do not provide audited financial records or independently verifiable documentation.
For that reason, it would be misleading to state one particular figure as Lojay’s confirmed net worth.
Like many successful recording artists, his income can potentially come from several areas, including music streaming, songwriting, recording royalties, performances, collaborations, publishing, endorsements and other entertainment-related opportunities.
His growing catalogue, international collaborations and debut album indicate a substantially larger career platform than he had during his early years. However, there is no authoritative public financial statement that establishes Lojay’s personal net worth.
Lojay’s Career Achievements
Lojay has achieved several important milestones during his relatively young career.
Some of the highlights include:
- Releasing his first known professional music as an independent artist in 2016.
- Releasing the Midnight Vibes EP in 2017.
- Collaborating with Sarz on the successful LV N ATTN EP.
- Recording “Monalisa,” one of his signature songs.
- Working with Wizkid on “LV N ATTN.”
- Collaborating with Chris Brown on the “Monalisa” remix.
- Reaching No. 8 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart with the “Monalisa” remix.
- Releasing the GANGSTER ROMANTIC project in 2023.
- Appearing with Chris Brown and Davido on “Sensational.”
- Receiving a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance.
- Releasing his debut studio album XOXO in 2025.
These achievements show how quickly his career has developed from small independent recordings into international Afrobeats collaborations.
Why Is Lojay Popular?
Lojay’s popularity comes from a combination of factors.
First, he has a recognizable voice. His delivery is softer and more melodic than that of many artists working within mainstream Afrobeats.
Second, his songs often deal with familiar human experiences such as attraction, love, heartbreak, confidence and emotional uncertainty. This makes his music relatively easy for listeners to connect with.
Third, his collaborations have helped him reach different audiences. Working with Sarz introduced him to a wider Nigerian audience, while collaborations with Wizkid, Chris Brown, Davido, Tyla, Feid and other artists have expanded his international profile.
Finally, Lojay has continued evolving rather than depending entirely on the success of “Monalisa.” His later projects demonstrate an effort to develop his songwriting, production choices and musical identity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lojay
What is Lojay’s real name?
Lojay’s real name is Lekan Osifeso Junior.
How old is Lojay?
Lojay was born on April 28, 1996, making him 30 years old in 2026.
Where is Lojay from?
Lojay is Nigerian and was born and raised in Lagos. He has spoken about growing up in areas including Surulere and Ikorodu.
What is Lojay’s biggest song?
“Monalisa,” recorded with Sarz and later remixed with Chris Brown, is one of Lojay’s biggest and most recognizable songs. “Sensational,” with Chris Brown and Davido, is another major international career milestone.
Did Lojay win a Grammy?
No. Lojay received a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance for “Sensational,” but the award went to Tems for “Love Me JeJe” at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
What is Lojay’s net worth in 2026?
There is no publicly verified figure for Lojay’s net worth in 2026. Online estimates differ widely and should be treated as unofficial rather than confirmed financial information.
What are Lojay’s popular songs?
Some of his best-known songs include “Monalisa,” “Tonongo,” “MOTO,” “Arizona,” “Sensational,” “LEADER!” and songs from his XOXO album such as “Mwah!,” “Body,” “Memories” and “Sawa.”