Niyola

Niyola (Eniola Akinbo) is a Nigerian songstress and dancer. Also called ‘EME First Lady’ being the first female signed to Empire Mates Entertainment record label, her love for music became evident as a child after a church performance. She studied Journalism.

In 2000 she was a runner-up at a now defunct singing competition and met with acclaimed Nigerian pop group Plantashun Boiz (with members 2face, Faze and Blackface). Subsequently she sang backup for singers Baba Dee and brother Sound Sultan and recorded a duet with Faze.

She went through a couple of labels, releasing a few singles, before signing with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment in 2012. Thereafter she featured in the group’s compilation album ‘Empire Mates States of Mind’ (2012), her solo track ‘Don’t Delay Me (Don’t Go There)’ an album highlight.

Leading up to her debut with the label, she has seen success with a few singles. The ode to an errant boyfriend ‘Toh Bad,’ and straightforward love song ‘Crazy’ are fan favourites. An avowed fan of Beyonce, Niyola covered the American R&B singer’s ‘Drunk in Love,’ easing the tune down to a ballad proper.

At the 2014 Headies, Niyola won the Best Vocal Performance (Female) category for ‘Love to Love You’ featuring Banky W (2014). She had been nominated twice before.