With Soul Jollof, Soul Yin Is Cooking Something Unforgettable
It’s a lovely Sunday morning; the sun’s out, and everything feels right. Soul Yin greets me with a somewhat sleepy voice. She’s currently in Abidjan, a mid-stop on her West African Soul Jollof tour. “Sorry, oh, I’ve been moving,” she says with a soft chuckle. Still, she asks how I’m doing, adjusting to the conversation as we chat.
If you don’t already know Soul Yin, real name Oyinmiebi Asu, here’s a quick catch-up: Born and raised in Lagos, she’s a DJ, the founder of Soul Jollof and a Guinness World Record holder for the longest DJ set by a female DJ.
Her journey started way back, with playlists in her dad’s house, evolved through university gigs, and eventually spiralled into full-time decks and headliner status. “I think it was lockdown,” she says, when I ask when the switch flipped. “I told my friend I wanted to break a world record. I just felt like I needed to get in the door. And there had never been a Black female DJ on that list.”
That decision was more than ambition; it was a statement, and in 2021, she broke the record setting a new time of 243 hours and 30 minutes.
“Honestly, I planned to quit at day five,” she admits. “Davido called me and was like ‘ah Aunty,’ and I was like, ‘Uncle, this thing is serious oh!’” She laughs. “Seeing my mum there gave me motivation. She stayed the entire 11 days. At some point, I didn’t even recognise her. But I kept going, and I felt like, you know, there are so many people who believe in me right now for me to stop, and I’m very, very stubborn.”
Before the records, though, there was rhythm. Her origin story is personal. “My dad was a DJ in Chicago, kind of,” she tells me. “And I got to learn from DJ Jimmy Jatt, he was like a father figure.” She tried the 9-to-5 thing once. It lasted six months. “I knew it wasn’t for me,” she says. “Started DJing full time in 2013.”
How she builds her sets is intuitive. “There’s no formula,” she says. “I just want people to be 50% happier than when they walked in. DJing is therapy. You’re influencing the room, so you either give them an amazing night or a shit one. God forbid the latter.”
When she speaks on sound, it’s clear where her heart lies. “Afrobeats,” she says with pride. “We Nigerian DJs are basically evangelists, spreading the gospel of Afrobeats. If I say I’m not greatly inspired by Afrobeats, I’d be lying. It’s the main driving force behind Soul Jollof.”
So, what is Soul Jollof?
Well, first of all, no, it’s not a restaurant. “The first time I heard the name, I thought someone opened a new jollof rice spot,” I tell her. She bursts into laughter. “Nah, it’s music,” she says. But it’s more than that.
The idea was born during her six-month stay in Dakar, Senegal. The name began as Jollof Jam, a trial party. “They party different there,” she says. “I wanted to bring that energy back to Lagos. A space where everyone’s phone is down and we’re just vibing.”
As the idea grew, so did the name. “Jollof means celebration. It’s something you mix. It’s our West African identity. Even if you don’t remember me, you’ll say, ‘Isn’t she the one doing that jollof thing?’ That’s fine with me.”
But Soul Jollof is not just music. From walkathons against gender-based violence to inclusive live sets that gather hundreds, Soul Yin is building a community. “It’s not just for one type of person; it’s for everybody,” she explains. “I’ve always known the idea was to take it across Africa, internationally, even.”
What does she want people to feel when they pull up? “I want them to feel what they felt the first time they tasted jollof,” she says. “That mind-blowing, beautiful, unforgettable moment. That’s what I’m doing with music. Because music is food for the soul.”
Naturally, I ask the question no one ever escapes, which Jollof is the best?
She laughs hard. “Please, please! Leave me alone!”
But eventually, she gives a diplomatic masterclass. “Everybody’s jollof is nice. Ghanaian jollof? Beautiful. Senegalese jollof? The originators, beautiful. They have three types: ceebu jën, ceebu yapp, ceebu guinaar. And of course, Nigerian jollof? Amazing. But it’s not about whose is best. It’s like a beauty pageant, everyone has something unique. It’s about sharing what you have with the world.”
This leads me to her name, Soul Yin. I know Yin comes from her first name, but what about the Soul?
“I’m one of those people who, once you get close to me, it’s like I give you a piece of my soul,” she tells me. “I’m passionate. I don’t open up easily, but once I do, it’s all there, transparent. That’s me.”
On The Road With Soul Jollof
When I ask Soul Yin what it’s been like taking Soul Jollof across West Africa, from Lagos to Ghana, and now Côte d’Ivoire, she laughs and lets out a tiny groan. “My mouth is paining me,” she says, referring to the daily French she’s had to pick up in Abidjan. Still, her tone shifts quickly to admiration. “It’s beautiful anyway… just being in a space where you don’t necessarily live and they still appreciate you because of something of value that you have.”
This is the essence of Soul Jollof: part cultural export, part party experience, and all heart. Whether it’s the pop-up set behind the airport in Accra with Efya or the denim-themed beach party with the Legendary Alexander Quest in Abidjan, each event adapts to its environment.
“In Ghana, it wasn’t called Soul Jollof. It was Soul Ghana Jollof. Here, they don’t really care for jollof like that; their thing is Alloco, so we’re calling it Soul Alloco. In Dakar, it’s going to be Soul Chep. We’re tailoring it to each city, but at the end of the day, it’s still Soul Jollof.”
I ask her about her favourite Soul Jollof show so far and she speaks with reverence about the chaos that was the Lagos Island edition. “It was such a crazy thing to do,” she says, grinning. “But also such a beautiful moment.” Yet, she’s not done. East Africa is next. “Ask me again in six months,” she says. “My stance might change.”
The deeper goal, though, is clear: to amplify the brand, yes, but also to show the world that “Africa is paradise.” That’s the tagline.“We’re using one of the maddest locations everywhere we go. I want people to see how beautiful Africa is. This is about community. This is about tourism. This is about the African party culture.”
When the conversation shifts to the industry at large, including DJing as a woman in a historically male-dominated field, Soul Yin shrugs off any notions of limitation. “It’s not about my gender anymore. I feel like Nigeria has caught up with what is happening around the world, and they actually do value their DJs, I think it’s just for other African countries to catch up.
We’re not just people you put in a corner to play music. We are brands, we are products. We deserve respect across Africa.”
As for legacy and what’s next for Soul Jollof? She smiles. “Just watch.”
She doesn’t like to box things in. Whether it’s a global tour, a festival, or partnerships with major brands, she’s open. “The thing is, I might have a plan, but God’s plan is usually bigger.”
With the DJ scene evolving and becoming more competitive every day, there’s a clear need to keep improving, and for Soul Yin, she takes her growth seriously.
“I listen to a lot of music. I’m always on my phone checking out what’s going on. YouTube, TikTok, ChatGPT, Google, everything. But I also have downtime. I reconnect with myself, and I pray. I don’t have a magic routine; I just stay connected to the source and keep learning.”
Regarding any wild pre-performance rituals, she laughs and throws subtle shade.
“Some people say they hit the ground three times before they perform. Baba, please, let’s be serious. For me, I just make sure I’m not hungry. That’s all.”
And for anyone looking to break into entertainment?
Her advice is clear: “If your reason is shallow, allow it. This thing requires a strong mentality. There’s no ‘entertainment industry building’; it’s all about connections, character, and God.”
“Sometimes your role models aren’t even who you think. You just have to build your character, be proud of your growth, smell the flowers… and don’t do drugs.”
