If you’ve been anywhere near a speaker lately, chances are you’ve heard it, the addictive afrobeat music “Awilo” that has been taking the internet by storm. The song is the latest buzz in the global music discourse, and the man behind it is a young Nigerian singer with a tale worth telling.
A Star Born in Sapele
Patrick Adoroh, known professionally as Patomant, originates from Sapele, Delta State, in the heart of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. Raised by his grandparents, Patrick’s relationship with music started nearly before he could completely understand it, at just five years old, music had already claimed him. By the time he was navigating his senior secondary school years at Sapele Technical College, he had already stepped into a recording studio to lay down his first professional tune. That kind of early ambition rarely goes undetected.
The Breakthrough Moment
In 2020, Patomant made a message that the Nigerian music scene could not ignore. He walked away as the winner of the Basement Africa Talent Show in Asaba, a victory that would change the tenor of his life. With the win came a new feeling of purpose, and shortly after, he took the move that numerous Nigerian artists have made before him, he packed his bags and flew to Lagos, the undisputed city of Afrobeats. Lagos sharpened him.
On October 18, 2024, he released his breakout single Time, and the streaming figures told their own story. The track has since crossed 400,000 streams on Spotify, a milestone that announced Patomant not as an upcoming talent to watch later, but as a voice firmly planting its flag in the Nigerian music industry right now.
The Freestyle That Became a Movement
But it is “Awilo” that has actually set the internet ablaze. What began as a casual, creative freestyle; the kind musicians record simply because the vibe demands it, quickly developed into something far bigger than anyone anticipated. The track attracted the ear of Awilo Longomba, the famed Congolese singer whose name inspired the song’s vigor. When Longomba uploaded it, the track’s reach exploded, delivering the world a clear hint of exactly how sharp Patomant’s instincts are.
Getting recognized by an artist of that level, off the back of a freestyle no less, speaks volumes about the kind of skill Patomant carries.
The support did not stop there. DJ Holy, UK Afrobeats DJ made a dedicated video about “Awilo” and has been playing it in his DJ sets. For a DJ of that profile, one who has consistently championed the best of African music for UK audiences, to put his stamp on the track is no small thing.
The demand from fans was immediate and enormous. The people had heard the freestyle and they wanted more – they wanted a genuine release. Patomant delivered.
The original track has already topped 40,000 plays on Spotify, and he has now posted an official lyric video on YouTube, giving fans everywhere the chance to learn every word of the song they have not been able to get out of their brains.
More Than a Name
The name Patomant alone carries meaning. Inspired by a close friend, it embodies the singular artistic identity that Patrick Adoroh has carved out for himself – an identity built on sincerity, raw talent, and an effortless ability to make music that connects across borders and cultures.
What Comes Next
Patomant’s narrative is one of those rare, organic rises that the music industry occasionally generates — no contrived hype, no over-engineered rollout, just a young man from Sapele with a gift, a freestyle that caught fire, and the talent to back it all up. From a talent competition stage in Asaba to Spotify playlists throughout the globe, the trajectory is sharp and it shows no indications of leveling off.
One thing is clear: Patomant is not a moment. He is a movement in the making.
