Torkula Luper Henry, better known by his stage name Otf Ciril, is a young Nigerian artist from Guma Local Government Area of Benue State who is gradually finding his place in the music industry.
Born on April 5, 2006, in Makurdi, Benue State, Otf Ciril’s interest in music started when he was still a little boy. At the age of five, he discovered that he could easily mimic songs, even when they were in languages he did not speak. What looked like ordinary childhood talent at the time eventually became something he began to take seriously.
In 2016, he went into the studio for the first time to record music. From there, his love for music continued to grow. During his secondary school days, he spent a lot of time doing freestyles and taking part in cyphers and school performances. Those early experiences gave him the opportunity to get comfortable in front of people and gradually develop himself as a performer.
Otf Ciril believes his ability to make music is a gift from God. For him, it is not something he simply picked up because music was popular. He sees it as a calling and something he can build his life around. That belief has played a major role in keeping him focused, especially because he has had to find his own way without the financial support or backing that many young artists hope to get.
Musically, Otf Ciril moves between Afrosounds, Afrobeats, Hip-Hop and melodic rap. He describes his sound as a mixture of modern street-pop, melodic rap and African rhythms. His aim is to make music that people can relate to outside Benue as well. While his background remains an important part of who he is, he does not want his music to be limited to one place.
His first recorded song was “Love No Be Transfer,” featuring Jay and produced by Musely. Since then, he has released songs including “My Life,” “Outside,” and “God Abeg.” Among his releases, “My Life” has stood out for him, while his Vibez to the World EP has also helped introduce his music to more listeners, especially through Audiomack.
Getting officially verified on Audiomack is another achievement he considers important in his journey. But even before streaming platforms became part of his story, Otf Ciril had already been performing at the grassroots level. His school graduation shows, freestyles and cyphers with friends were some of the places where he started building the confidence he now brings into his music.
His journey has also taken him outside Nigeria. Like many young independent artists trying to create something for themselves, Otf Ciril has had to think beyond music and find ways to support his own dream. In 2023, he travelled to Ghana, where he focused on building a financial foundation for himself.
By 2026, he was back in Nigeria and had moved to Lagos, where he decided to take his music more seriously. One of the things he began doing differently was learning the business side of music. Instead of waiting for a record label or someone else to handle everything for him, he started learning how to distribute his music independently and get it onto international streaming platforms.
Being an independent artist has not been easy. There is the financial side of recording and promoting music, the difficulty of getting people to listen to a new artist, and the challenge of finding the right people to believe in what you are doing. Otf Ciril has also tried reaching out to record labels, including Trap Record Entertainment. Those experiences helped him understand that, before anything else, he needs to build his own audience and have people who genuinely support his music.
That independent mindset has become an important part of his personality as an artist. He does not want to sit around waiting for somebody to come and make his career happen. He is learning the business himself, putting money into his music when he can and trying to understand every part of the process.
Beyond his own career, Otf Ciril has a bigger reason for wanting to succeed. He wants to see artists from Benue and the Middle Belt receive more attention outside the region. He believes there is a lot of talent in Benue, but many of those artists still struggle to get the kind of exposure they deserve.
That is one of the things that keeps him going.
He also believes his versatility and songwriting ability give him an advantage. He enjoys experimenting with different sounds, while his love for rap allows him to pay attention to his lyrics and how he expresses himself. More importantly, he has developed a mindset of doing things himself when the help he needs is not available.
At the moment, Otf Ciril is preparing for another important stage in his career. He is working on a seven-track EP titled “Pen Game,” which is scheduled for release in December 2026.
The project will contain seven songs: “Pen Game,” “Benue Boys,” “Dealer,” “Golden Morn,” “My Demons,” “Running,” and “School Life.”
With “Pen Game,” Otf Ciril wants to show a different side of himself and connect with the younger generation of Afrobeats listeners. He draws inspiration from some of the new generation of artists, including Ayo Maff, Famous Pluto and Muyeez, but he is also trying to find his own lane rather than simply copying what is already working.
For him, the project is part of a bigger plan for 2027. He wants to take his music beyond Nigeria, put Benue talent in front of a wider audience and prove that an independent artist from the Middle Belt can build something meaningful without starting with a major record deal.
As he prepares for the December release, Otf Ciril is back in the studio and working on the marketing side of the project as well. There is still a long road ahead, but he is already clear about what he wants from music.
He wants to make records people can connect with, build a fanbase that genuinely believes in him, reach the global charts someday and, when he gets there, create opportunities for other young creatives coming from Benue.
For now, Otf Ciril is still building. He is still learning. He is still finding his sound and figuring out the industry.
But one thing is clear: he is determined to give himself a chance.
And for a young artist who started mimicking songs at the age of five, that journey is only getting started.
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