MBryo: The Silent Architect Behind Afrobeats’ Biggest Hits

They say great art is often the work of invisible hands—in this case, those hands belong to MBryo (Prince Omoferi), the secret weapon of Mavin Records, quietly crafting the hooks that dominate Afrobeats playlists from Lagos to London. Born in Warri and raised with a pen instead of a mic, MBryo started as a poet. At just 13, he had already written nearly a book—though distractions stopped him at chapter four. From gospel melodies to personal poems, he sharpened his craft until music became him. He began as an aspiring artist, even going by the stage name “G‑In‑Jah” during his gospel days, before diving fully into commercial songwriting. His move to secular beats was deliberate—he wanted his music to hit the club and the church with equal power. Then came 2019: his first professional songwriting sale, a moment that shifted everything. His lyrics began surfacing across major Afrobeats stages—Ayra Starr, Crayon, Davido, Tiwa Savage, and more. That performance landed him a spot in Mavin Records’ elite songwriter squad in 2022, alongside teen prodigy Milar. Together, they began shaping Afrobeats’ next wave—Mbryo on vocals and Milar on verse. You’ve probably sung his verses without knowing. “Bloody Samaritan”, “Overdose”, “Sability”, “Ijo (Labalaba)”, “Feeling”—all stamped with his melodic intelligence. MBryo is Spotify’s Songwriter of the Year 2023, and his name is whispered behind every chorus you crank on your playlist. But how does he do it? MBryo treats every beat like a challenge. He’ll write 3 or 4 songs on one instrumental, changing the mood and angle each time. He studied the structure of every hit he could get—listening not for fun, but to reverse-engineer success. Despite reaching the upper echelon of the industry, his personal journey was hard. His father was a pastor and educator who pushed education first and didn’t support his music dreams. After getting dropped from his first label, he couch-surfed in studios and kept writing until opportunity knocked. That persistence is sewn into his melodies. If you’re a student in Theatre Arts or Mass Comm thinking your writing is too small—think again. MBryo proves you can be the brain behind hits, even if you’re never on camera. In 2024, he co-hosted The Future Awards Africa nominees event with Ladipoe and Andre Vibez—proof that his influence is now recognized publicly, not just behind the scenes. So next time “Sability” or “Overdose” hits your speakers, remember: the credit doesn’t go to the performer alone. It’s likely MBryo who built that chorus to live rent‑free in your mind. He’s not the flashy face. He’s the framework. And in Afrobeats, his pen is now the part you can’t ignore. MBryo didn’t join Mavin to flex. He joined to build. And he’s still in the blueprint.