Fireboy DML: Biography, Music Career & Peru (2026)

Adedamola Adefolahan, known professionally as Fireboy DML, began his music career while studying English and Literary Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. He caught the attention of Olamide and YBNL Nation through a combination of independently released tracks and campus-circuit performances, and by 2019 his debut album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps had established him as one of the most distinctive young voices in Nigerian music.

Fireboy DML was born on 5 February 1996 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. His songwriting draws from a literary sensibility shaped by years of reading and formal study, and his music is known for its emotional depth and introspective themes at a time when the dominant Afrobeats sound prioritised celebration and energy over vulnerability and reflection.

The 2021 remix of his song Peru with Ed Sheeran became one of the biggest crossover moments in Nigerian music that year, charting across multiple international markets and demonstrating that Afropop’s global reach extended well beyond diaspora audiences. As of 2026, Fireboy DML has three studio albums, extensive touring experience in the UK, US, and Europe, and a position as one of the most consistently reviewed Nigerian artists in international music media.

In brief

Early life and education

Adedamola Adefolahan was born on 5 February 1996 in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria. Abeokuta has a long history as a centre of Yoruba culture, education, and musical tradition, and growing up in that environment shaped his interest in storytelling and literary forms alongside music.

He gained admission to Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, where he studied English and Literary Studies. The degree gave him a framework for thinking about language and narrative that he has credited in multiple interviews as directly influencing his approach to songwriting. He describes himself as a student of literature who happened to find his primary medium in music rather than prose or poetry.

While at OAU, he began releasing music independently and performing at campus events. His sound at this stage was already distinguishable from the broader Afrobeats scene by its slower tempos, reflective lyrical content, and influence from American R&B and soul. Those early recordings circulated on WhatsApp, Twitter, and early streaming platforms and reached YBNL Nation’s network before he had completed his degree.

YBNL signing and debut album

Fireboy DML signed to YBNL Nation after Olamide heard his music through the network of OAU alumni and Afrobeats observers who were tracking new talent in university towns. His debut single Jealous, released in 2019, announced his arrival to the broader Nigerian market with an emotional directness and vocal tone that immediately set him apart from the party-focused sounds then dominating Nigerian radio.

Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps, his debut studio album, followed in November 2019 and was one of the most critically praised Nigerian album debuts of the decade. Tracks including Jealous, Vibration, and Champion showcased a range of mood and tempo that belied its status as a first album. The Punch and Vanguard, alongside international outlets including Pitchfork and The Guardian, gave it strong reviews and named it among the best African albums of 2019.

His quick follow-up, Apollo (2020), continued his momentum with the addition of more upbeat tracks alongside his signature introspective compositions. The album produced the international breakthrough Peru, which charted across African markets and began accumulating significant European streaming numbers in its original form before the remix amplified its reach.

Peru remix and global recognition

The Peru remix featuring Ed Sheeran was released in October 2021 and became the most commercially successful single of Fireboy DML’s career. The track peaked at number one in Nigeria, reached the top ten in the UK, and charted across Europe, North America, and Australia. It was certified platinum in the UK and received significant streaming and radio support from BBC Radio 1 and other major international outlets.

Ed Sheeran’s participation in the remix came after the British artist heard the original while on tour and expressed interest in collaborating. The mix of Fireboy DML’s Afropop original with Sheeran’s pop production sensibility created a track that worked across genres in a way that demonstrated the widening appeal of the Nigerian sound beyond established Afrobeats audiences.

The success of Peru opened international touring opportunities that significantly expanded his performing footprint. He appeared at festivals in the UK and US, performed sold-out shows in London, New York, and Houston, and established a global fan base that had not existed before the remix’s release.

Life beyond the spotlight

Fireboy DML keeps his personal life largely private and has not confirmed a public relationship. In interviews with Nigerian and international media, he has spoken about drawing his songwriting material from personal emotional experience without specifying its sources or subjects. His preference for privacy is consistent across all his public interactions.

He has spoken about the literary influences on his work, citing Nigerian novelists and poets as formative alongside musical influences. His OAU education remains a reference point he returns to when discussing his creative process, and he has expressed interest in eventually writing outside of music.

Awards and recognition

Fireboy DML won the Headies Award for Best R&B Album for Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps in 2020 and has received multiple nominations at the Headies, BET Awards, and MOBO Awards in subsequent years. Peru (with Ed Sheeran) received UK platinum certification and a MOBO nomination for Best Song. He was named on the BBC Sound of 2020 longlist, one of the most competitive international recognition lists for emerging artists.

Multiple international music outlets including Pitchfork, NME, and Rolling Stone have covered his albums positively, an unusual level of consistent international critical attention for a Nigerian artist who had not yet crossed into American mainstream radio. His critical reputation internationally is built primarily on his songwriting quality and vocal distinctiveness rather than single commercial peaks.

Reported net worth

Fireboy DML’s 2026 net worth is estimated at between $3 million and $5 million by multiple Nigerian entertainment sources. That figure draws on royalties from three studio albums and associated singles, touring income from African and international markets following Peru’s global success, brand endorsement deals, and his Empire Distribution deal which gives his music consistent international commercial infrastructure.

The Peru remix’s streaming performance in particular generated significant royalty income from UK and European markets where the track reached certified status. His live performance fee in Lagos and other major Nigerian cities is estimated at between five and twelve million naira per appearance by sources covering the Nigerian entertainment market as of 2024.

Selected songs

• “Jealous”
• “Vibration”
• “Peru”
• “Champion”
• “Bandana”

People also ask

What is Fireboy DML’s real name?

Fireboy DML’s real name is Adedamola Adefolahan. He was born on 5 February 1996 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and studied English and Literary Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife before his music career launched through YBNL Nation.

What does DML stand for in Fireboy DML?

DML stands for “Damola,” one of his given names (Adedamola). He adopted the stage name Fireboy DML while still at university, and the initials have since become part of his established professional identity across all his releases and touring materials.

How did Peru with Ed Sheeran come about?

Ed Sheeran heard the original version of Peru while on tour and expressed interest in collaborating on a remix. The remix was released in October 2021, peaked at number one in Nigeria, reached the top ten in the UK, and was certified platinum in Britain, becoming Fireboy DML’s most globally successful single to date.

Which label is Fireboy DML signed to?

He is signed to YBNL Nation, the label founded by Olamide, with international distribution through Empire Distribution. The deal gives his music simultaneous global release infrastructure, which was instrumental in the international spread of Peru and the Ed Sheeran remix.

What is Fireboy DML’s net worth in 2026?

Multiple Nigerian entertainment sources estimate his net worth at between $3 million and $5 million as of 2026, reflecting album royalties, international touring income following the Peru remix’s global success, brand endorsement deals, and his YBNL and Empire distribution arrangements.

Conclusion

Fireboy DML built his reputation on melody and mood, standing out as a song-focused writer in a genre often driven by dance trends. His emotive style, which he calls Afro-life, leans on feeling rather than flash. That focus on craft earned him respect among peers and critics alike.

The global success of “Peru”, especially its remix with Ed Sheeran, underlined both his songwriting and Afrobeats’ growing pull with international pop artists. His albums have been consistently well received. He has toured internationally as a headline act.

Respected as one of the genre’s finest melodists, Fireboy has helped keep song-driven writing at the heart of Afrobeats. He remains a central figure in the genre’s ongoing global expansion. His catalogue suggests an artist still building toward his peak.

Sources and further reading

Information in this profile draws on reporting and data from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NME, The Guardian, BBC Radio 1, MOBO Awards, Headies Awards records, Billboard, The Pulse Nigeria, and BPI (UK platinum certification records).