Haywhy De Rhymer: A Voice That Travels Across Borders
"When you praise Omega, you will go mega," Haywhy De Rhymer bellows into the mic, and the crowd erupts. That is a call, a pulse, a declaration. This electrifying moment at FWC Abuja captures everything about Ayokunle Adebayo: his rhythm, his power, and the way his voice lingers long after the lights dim.
The stage has always been a kind of home for Ayokunle Adebayo. People know him as Haywhy De Rhymer, the performer whose voice and presence stay with you long after he steps away from the mic. His story is not a straight line; it is a careful weaving of Yoruba poetry, acting, and music into something that feels both personal and powerful. From the streets of Nigeria to international film sets in the United Kingdom, Haywhy is scripting a story of relentless pursuit of excellence.
His first encounter with the stage came in 1989, during his primary school years. What began as a child's fascination with performance has matured into a lifelong calling. "My passion for the stage has never waned," he says. That passion has guided every bold step he has taken since. Over the years, he has become one of Nigeria's most prominent indigenous spoken word artists, gracing some of the country's most prestigious platforms. One of his career highlights remains The Experience Lagos, Africa's largest gospel concert, where he has performed four times, a rare feat for a spoken word artist in a music-dominated lineup.
But Haywhy's artistry stretches beyond the stage. He is also a founder and nurturer of dreams. His non-profit organisation, Career Connect and Reformation Initiative, was born out of his desire to help young talents find their purpose. Through mentorship and creative alignment, he has helped shape the paths of several emerging spoken word artists who now perform globally.
"For me, it is not just about performing," he notes, "it is about building a generation of artists who understand that their gifts can transform lives." In 2021, for example, one of his mentees who began performing in local community halls in Lagos went on to perform on a pan-African stage in Kenya. Stories like this are proof that Haywhy's platform is more than a name, it is a launchpad.
This spirit shows up not just in what he says, but in how he makes people feel when he performs. His words carry the heartbeat of Yoruba oral tradition, steady, layered, alive, while moving with the ease of today's rhythm. Yoruba orature, especially oriki, storytelling, and chant, has always held space for memory, pride, and spirit. Haywhy does not simply echo this legacy; he bends and stretches it to fit the present. With a sharp tongue and a playful ear, he threads Yoruba, English, and Pidgin into something bigger than language, a pulse that travels across rooms, cities, and borders. In a scene where countless artists run after the sound of the moment, Haywhy stands firm, turning his indigenous background into the rhythm of his global charm.
When he stepped into acting, Haywhy approached it with the same discipline and vision that shaped his spoken word career. He started humbly, taking on stage roles and eventually breaking into film and television. His acting resume spans Nigeria and the United Kingdom, marking him as a cultural bridge between both worlds. In Nigeria, he featured in the Yoruba movie Eya (2009), a production that cemented his confidence on the screen. Years later, in the UK, his name appeared on the cast lists of several high-profile productions, many of which now stream on ITV, Netflix, and Prime Video.
His roles may be supporting, but each is a building block in a career that is steadily gaining international visibility. Among the productions he has featured in are Set Me Free, Fool Me Once, Protection, Toxic Town, A Gentleman in Moscow, Run Away, and Sherwood. He also appeared in The Neighbourhood (ITV), where he played one of the Removals, and took on roles such as a police officer, army officer, and prison warden in other projects. On the set of A Gentleman in Moscow, for instance, Haywhy's measured performance as an army officer drew quiet nods of approval from the crew, a reminder that even small roles can leave lasting impressions. These moments, though subtle, are the stepping stones of an actor on the rise.
Presently a student at Carney Academy in the UK, Haywhy continues to sharpen his craft, learning the technicalities, discipline, and subtleties that separate good actors from great ones. "My dream," he says, "is to become one of the most celebrated actors in the world, earning recognition through prestigious international awards."
What sets Haywhy apart is not just his talent but the clarity of his mission. His performances, whether on stage or on screen, are shaped by a desire to impact and inspire. As someone who studied Peace and Conflict Resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria, his worldview is rooted in empathy, storytelling, and using art as a tool for change. He sees performance not just as entertainment, but as a bridge that connects people, ideas, and cultures. His spoken word performances reflect this philosophy. They are often laced with hope, resilience, faith, and cultural pride.
This blend has earned him recognition around the world, proving that indigenous art, when wielded with conviction, can speak to global audiences. The trajectory of Haywhy De Rhymer's career is as deliberate as his words on stage. From his early performances in primary school to The Experience Lagos, from local Nigerian productions to UK sets, he has moved through different creative spaces with intention. But even as he builds his personal legacy, he remains committed to mentoring others, ensuring that his journey becomes a path many can follow.
"I believe in taking bold steps," he says, "because dreams do not wait forever. If you want the world to hear your voice, you have to use it with purpose." And the world will be hearing a lot more. With several new performances and acting projects lined up in the UK and Nigeria, Haywhy De Rhymer is not just telling his story, he is building a cultural movement. His voice, bold, rhythmic, and deeply rooted, is only going to get louder.