Niniola is the Queen of Afro-House that never stops being consistent.
Niniola is one of the most successful and acclaimed ‘Queen of Afro-House’, steadily churning out club dominating bangers.
By melding sinuous Afro-house rhythms with frank talk about sex and romance, Niniola has established herself as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated acts.
Niniola Apata is regarded as Nigeria’s queen of Afrohouse, which was bestowed on her by fans of her music, who have listened to the high-quality iterations of her House-influenced sound.
Her music comprises high-octane stuff, crafted for dance floors and big party moments.
In between dropping and amplifying party singles, she excels as a ballad singer, armed with powerful vocals that she wields sparingly.
While many of her peers in the Nigerian mainstream were cohering around the easy, charming bounce dubbed Afrobeats, Niniola was more connected to the four-on-the-floor thump of house music and so connected, in fact, that she has taken on the mantle of “the Queen of Afro-House.”
Since emerging as a runner-up on reality TV show Project Fame West Africa, the Yoruba singer has become living proof that hard work, determination and creativity pay off.
Her 2014 debut single “Ibadi” encapsulates her distinctive blend of Afrobeats, house music and a feisty, vivacious persona.
“Ibadi” was supple but pushy, a dance-floor-ready barrage of percussion shrouded in Niniola’s vocal lines, which she delivered in both English and Yoruba.
On her 2017 hit “Maradona”, Niniola pushes boundaries as she sings unabashedly about a cheating boyfriend, and addresses the joys of love and heartbreak in thrilling fashion.
She works with top Afro-fusion producers like Legendury Beatz and SARZ, resulting in intoxicating club sounds that move the body and mind.
Niniola released her debut single Ibadi in March 2014, 3 years later she released her debut album in 2017 titled ‘This Is Me’ then a follow-up second studio album in 2020 titled ‘Colours and Sounds’ where she bump to South Africa’s tranquillizing Amapiano sound with Jamaican dancehall and afrobeat.
Niniola’s 2017 hit record, “Maradona” certifies gold in South Africa.
Over the past few years, the mainstream American music business has become increasingly attuned to music released in Africa. The signs are scattered around the industry.
Apparently, that makes it a favourable time for Niniola to return with a sophomore album, which is sure to attract more ears and from more countries than her last.
The endurance of “Maradona,” which was also remixed by DJ Snake, a mainstay of Western electronic music festivals, has helped give her cover as she works on a This Is Me follow-up.
“Fantasy” is expected to appear on the new album, which Niniola hopes to release this year. She’s also been sending music to the veteran hitmaker Timbaland,
Niniola and Sarz are an unbridled combination, when Niniola and Sarz put their heads together for a record, it’s undoubtedly another banger.
As the song’s title would suggest, Niniola is addicted to her partner (potential ex-partner as this point) whom she bequeaths to “pada wale where you belong” (come back home where you belong).
Shuttling between English and Yoruba, as is her usual flex, Nini confesses that this addiction is driving her crazy, singing “tori ife yi ti da mi l’ori ru” (because this love has scattered my head).
Courtesy of Nigeria’s finest, the beat for “Addicted” is bouncy, enthralling and quite frankly addictive, corny as it may sound.
Her latest project titled ‘From Lagos to Jozi’ is tailored to hit more in parties and events going by the type of beats she used, it sounds nothing less than a hit record with a great line of affection and expression.