Every once in a while, an artist comes along whose sound feels both familiar and completely new. For Nigeria’s Strei (born Howard Efemena Dominic in Ughelli South, Delta State), that sound is Afromood, a genre he’s pioneering that fuses Afrobeats rhythms with deeply emotional storytelling.
Before the record deals and streaming numbers, Strei’s story began in a small choir. It was there that he first discovered the power of his voice. After the world shut down and everyone turned to their phones, Strei turned his into a studio. Using BandLab, he recorded covers that captured raw, unfiltered feelings. Those intimate phone sessions found their way to TikTok, where they went viral, resonating with listeners who felt something deeper in his sound.
That moment marked the beginning of something special. In 2025, Strei took the leap from digital discovery to professional artistry, signing with KTIZO WRLD Records, which later partnered with Platoon for distribution, a major step that widened his audience and solidified his place as one to watch.
His debut EP, I.T.A.M. (Introduction to Afromood), lived up to its name. Within eight months, all six tracks on the project surpassed one million streams on Spotify, an impressive feat for a new artist. He’s followed that up with singles like “Imagine” and “Blessing,” and a collaboration with Babyboy AV on “Crazily,” further showcasing his knack for crafting melodies that balance vulnerability and groove.
As his star continues to rise, Strei is building a movement around emotion, honesty, and mood, much to the delight of his Streitribe. In a scene dominated by dancefloors and party anthems, Afromood is a reminder that music can also be a safe space.
And for Strei, that’s just the beginning.
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