By Ayo Onikoyi

Nigerian musician, poet and actor Ogunbiyi Bolaji Kingsley has officially announced a name change, transitioning from “Monark IsHere” to “MonarchK”, marking a new chapter in his artistic journey.

The rebrand follows years of persistent misinterpretation of his former stage name. Speaking during a recent interview, MonarchK explained that the decision was driven by clarity and purpose. “‘IsHere’ was meant to be a statement, not a suffix,” Monarchk said. “Over time, it became obvious that the meaning was being lost. MonarchK represents who I truly am now; speakiing of ownership, authorship and the responsibility of shaping my own legacy.”

His manager bigTEE echoed the same sentiment, noting that the change was both strategic and personal. “The old name was already making waves, but it kept being read wrongly, especially on digital platforms,” “MonarchK as it is spelt is clean, intentional and aligns as royalty from his name Kingsley which perfectly suits the calibre of music and storytelling he’s stepping into.”

A representative of the artiste’s label, Mr. Dayo Horesh also weighed in on the rebranding, describing it as a necessary evolution. “This wasn’t about trend or reinvention for its own sake, it was about identity. MonarchK communicates Royalty, leadership, originality and African excellence which are values that define his sound and long-term vision.” Horesh remarked.

Now professionally known as MonarchK, the Nigerian Afrobeats artiste officially debuted in 2021 with PICK UP, signed with Oasis24 Entertainment in 2024 where he dropped his single “Jay Joycie,” followed by “Chinedu” and “Liquor Rose,” which has further built more on his catalog thereby helping him establish his genre-blending style, expressive storytelling skills.

A graduate of Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan, MonarchK is also an accomplished poet, actor, and serving immigration officer. He first gained national recognition in 2011 as the 1st Runner-Up at the Glo Rock and Rule competition.

With the name “MonarchK”, the artiste signals a clearer artistic vision and renewed commitment to building a purposeful legacy across music and film, positioning himself as a distinctive and intentional voice in contemporary African creative culture.