Ayo Shonaiya

After a brief period in Los Angeles California after college, he returned to London in 1992 to make films for a living, but instead he enrolled at the University of Westminster Law School in 1993 to train as a lawyer.

British/Nigerian actress Caroline Chikezie was cast in her first starring role in Spin, which also featured Chebe Azih, Deborah Asante and Femi Houghton with the soundtrack by British/Nigerian soul singer Ola Onabule.

[10] Spin was nominated for Best New Director[11][failed verification] at the 2001 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles and also for the MICA Prize at the FESPACO in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso in the same year.

[15] Filmed over a 20-year period,[16][17] the documentary series features rare and never-been-seen footages[18] of many of the big stars today, interviews from the behind-the-scene pioneers of the genre, including Ayo Shonaiya himself as a key player in the history of Afrobeats.

In all, Ayo Shonaiya created and produced 9 programs for BEN TV in 2 years, including In Perspective, Pots & Pans, Out & About and Soul Sista with Dakore Egbuson.

He agreed and signed a contract to become K1 De Ultimate's International Manager and his first job was to promote a Christmas "comeback" concert in London in December of that year.

Ayo Shonaiya would subsequently work with and/or manage the careers of the Trybesmen (and members of the Da Trybe such as Dr SID, Sasha[35] and 2Shotz[36]) over a period of 3 years.

Soon after, Ayo Shonaiya negotiated an unprecedented deal with Obaino Records in Nigeria to pay D'banj for a video remix album based on potential sales.

In 2010, model Munachi Abii (Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2007 winner)[44] was signed to Ayo Shonaiya's company RMG[45] as Muna the rapper, to manage and represent her.

In May 2012 Ayo publicly defended Muna, when she was heavily criticised and attacked on social media forums after she had a minor verbal altercation with Nigerian rap veteran Mode 9.

[46] He was in turn criticised for the way he handled the situation, some calling him arrogant,[47] but within a month of the incident, Muna and Mode 9 performed together on the same stage at Industry Nite.

Ayo and Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1 De Ultimate) in 1999.
Ayo and 2face Idibia after the taping of the Mo'Nique Show in Atlanta.
Ayo Shonaiya with UBA MD/CEO Philips Oduoza, Akon and Tony Elumelu at the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Lecture [ 41 ] in Lagos 2015.
Ayo with comedians Julius Agwu & Basketmouth at the Nigerian Reunion in Atlanta 2006.