ENiola Akinbo popularly known as Niyola discovered her affinity for music at age 8 when she attended a Funmi Adams concert with her father. Soon, she started developing interest in singing; deciding later that year, to do a song at the annual church convention.
Her father who’s a music enthusiast and vocalist groomed her for the convention together with her brother and sister who also had love for music. After that performance, little Eniola went home with gifts and envelopes from people who had confessed that she had an amazing talent. From then on she recognised her talent and started nurturing her musical skills while creating music that her older ones listened to.
Niyola’s unique story started in 2000 when she took part in the AMEN starletcompetition and emerged first runner up – meeting with the then “Plantashun boys’’ who invited her to do a duet with the group (she ended up recording with Faze as the group would soon split).
She later joined Trybe records briefly; leaving to jump start ‘’Make sum noise ‘’entertainment a production outfit owned by Freestyle of TRYBESMEN. She released her first singles Me n U (in da club) No more and Dem say on the imprint.
After the release of the singles, it wasn’t long before she got signed to Westside Music (where she released her eponymous debut album containing the smash hits Bring it on and Call my name). The album got two nominations that year at the Hip hop world awards. She also signed a management deal with Now muzik.
After the release of the singles, it wasn’t long before she got signed to Westside Music (where she released her eponymous debut album containing the smash hits Bring it on and Call my name). The album got two nominations that year at the Hip hop world awards. She also signed a management deal with Now muzik.
Niyola has performed at major events like the Akon concert in Lagos, Calabar festival in Cross Rivers, Yhello Festival alongside Sasha, and toured with CELTEL (now Airtel) in 2008. She also took part in the first girl power Tetmosol project amongst many others. In 2009, she took part in the OVATION RED CAROL theme song.
With influences like Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Rachelle Ferelle andBeyonce, Niyola’s vocal strength has brought about collaborations with Ruggedman on” If I could do it’’, “ If you want my love” with Freestyle, ‘’All my days ‘’, “Leaders of tomorrow ‘’with Sasha amongst many others.
She’s also written soundtracks for movies in her dialect Yoruba like FEYIPITAN, OGIDI OMO ABANIDARO amongst many others. In 2007 she wrote the theme song for 2FACE IDIBIA’s 2nd album concert and also did jingles for Coca Cola and a few other international brands.
As an undergraduate in the University of Lagos, and an apostle of travel and tourism, Niyola combined her studies with her music; building up a strong profile as a musician to reckon with, while earning her first degree. Following the successful release of her first independent single TURN ME ON in December 2010, the singer has now gone on to release her hot new single titled UNPREDICTABLE (featuring Skales and produced by Ex O). UNPREDICTABLE was written with Ex O and is a translation of Niyola’s personal experiences, as is her forthcoming album.
It’s 2012 and this pop diva was recently featured on several tracks on the EME Empire Mates State of Mind album alongside leading Nigerian acts, Wizkid, Banky W and Skales.
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