history
NINIOLA APATA aka NINIOLA is a singer, song writer and performer who hails from EKITI STATE. She was born on the 15th of December. Born into a family that had nothing but Love and support for each other.
She went on to attend Apata Memorial School after which she went and bagged her Bachelor of Education from the University of Lagos.
Niniola fell in love with music right from when she was a kid. In high school, she had a sort of request show during her free time where her friends will make requests and she will sing to her classmates. This was possible because of her large repertoire of songs and clear vocals… She was tagged “the human radio“.
She later joined the school’s cultural group and participated in social activities. Although she’s immersed herself in music, and enjoyed accolades from friends and family, she wanted the world to hear her voice. Thus going for a couple of competitions thereby harnessing her singing skills.
Niniola was the 3rd Runner-Up in the MTN PROJECT FAME Competition Season 6 (2013), where she performed with the likes of KCEE and also performed her personal composition “ITURA” which was produced by COBHAMS ASUQUO…A song that was loved by everyone who heard it.
Niniola with a vocal range that can crack a glass, takes her influences from the likes of Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, The Cranberries, Madonna, Beyoncé and Yoruba(African) music, and uses them to shape her own style. In her words, “I naturally gravitate to a sound that’s filled with warmth and timelessness.”
Her first Official Single “Ibadi” which was produced by Sarz, is of a new genre which she created for herself and called it “AFRO-HOUSE” – a blend of Afrobeat and House music. The single went on to become a massive hit in Nigeria and around the continent.
She would not stop there; she went on to put out songs like “Gbowode”, “Akara Oyibo”, “Soke”, “Shaba”, “J’ete”, “Start All Over”, “Jigi Jigi” & the current global hit and new wave singles “Maradona” & “Sicker”.
All Niniola’s songs have topped various charts globally with Maradona currently leading the trend. She has also made appearances on several songs which have made waves too.
Niniola has also worked with EDDY KENZO from Uganda. The BET AWARD Winner featured her on the remix of his hit single “Mbilo Mbilo”. Her contribution won them the award for Best Collaboration at the 2016 AFRIMA Awards.
Niniola has graced many stages since releasing her debut single and is preparing to grace more in the coming years.
On the 1st of November 2017, Niniola released her most anticipated debut album titled “This Is Me“. The release and subsequent overwhelming reception of Niniola’s “This Is Me” propelled her to both an Artist Spotlight feature and to become Apple Music’s New Artist of The Month.
Both Maradona and Sicker have topped several charts and are receiving massive airplay. Along with Saro, Oyin, Magun, Magun Remix, Bana her current hit Designer, their music videos have a current combined 17.5 million views on Youtube alone. With currently over 2 million streams on Spotify and over 5.6 million views on YouTube, Maradona reached No. 1 on the biggest charts in Africa including Metro FM SA, MTV Base South, YFM and Beat FM 99.9 Nigeria, becoming the most played song on Radio in South Africa according to RadioMonitor SA.
In February 2018, Niniola arrived South Africa for her much-anticipated media tour. She was back in South Africa in March as she was booked to perform at the prestigious SA Music Carnival.
In April 2018, “This Is Me” was nominated for the Best African Artist Album at the South African Music Awards 2018.
In July 2018, internationally renowned DJ Snake teamed up with Niniola for a hit single titled “Maradona Riddim” based heavily on her 2017 hit song “Maradona”.
On 7th August, 2018, Niniola became the first female Nigerian artist to cross 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
On Friday the 9th of November 2018, Niniola headlined her first ever concert “The Human Radio“. The very successful concert was held at the Landmark Event Center in Victoria Island, Lagos.
And an even bigger sequel to The Human Radio Concert codenamed “The Musical Experience” held on the 8th of November 2019, at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
Niniola got nominated for the 2020 Grammy Awards for her role as a songwriter and composer on Beyonce’s “Find Your Way Back” from “The Lion King: The Gift” album.
Nominations
NEA AWARDS 2015 (MOST PROMISING ACT TO WATCH)
NIGERIAN ACHIEVERS AWARD 2015 (BEST PROMISING FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR)
AFRICA YOUTH CHOICE AWARD 2015 (NEXT RATED ACT)
AFRICA YOUTH CHOICE AWARD 2015 (BEST NEW ACT MUSIC)
LAGOS FASHION AWARDS 2015 (MOST FASHIONABLE FAST RISING MUSIC STAR OF THE YEAR FEMALE)
GREEN AWARDS 2015 (MOST PROMISING FEMALE ARTIST)
SCREAM AWARDS 2015 (BEST NEW ACT FEMALE)
NEMAWARDS 2015 (FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR)
NEMAWARDS 2015 (MOST POPULAR SONG OF THE YEAR “IBADI”)
NIGERIAN OSCAR 2015 (MOST PROMISING ARTISTE OF THE YEAR (FEMALE))
SURULERE ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS 2015 (BEST FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR)
ACIAWARDS 2016 (NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR)
NEA AWARDS 2016 (BEST NEW ACT)
AFRIMA AWARDS 2016 (BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN WEST AFRICA)
AFRIMA AWARDS 2016 (Best Artiste/Duo/Group In African RnB & Soul)
AFRIMA AWARDS 2016 (Songwriter of the Year In Africa (mbilo mbilo remix))
AFRIMA AWARDS 2016 (Best African Collaboration (mbilo mbilo remix))
LAGOS FASHION AWARDS 2016 (FASHIONABLE REVELATION ARTISTE OF THE YEAR)
ELOY AWARDS 2016 (UPCOMING FEMALE MUSIC ARTISTE)
SCREAM ALL YOUTH AWARDS 2016 (Youth Favorite Artiste(Female))
NIGERIAN MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2016 (BEST RnB VIDEO Akara Oyibo)
SOUNDCITY MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2016 (BEST COLLABORATION Mbilo Mbilo Remix)
SOUNDCITY MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2016 (BEST NEW ARTISTE)
NEA AWARDS 2017 (BEST AFROPOP FEMALE ARTISTE)
AFRIMMA AWARDS 2017 (BEST NEWCOMER)
CITY PEOPLE MUSIC AWARDS 2017 (MUSIC ARTISTE OF THE YEAR (FEMALE))
NIGERIAN TEENS CHOICE AWARDS 2017 (CHOICE FEMALE VOCALIST 2017)
AFRIMA AWARDS 2017 (BEST ARTISTE AFRICAN ELECTRO)
SOUNDCITY MVP AWARDS 2018 (BEST FEMALE MVP)
SOUNDCITY MVP AWARDS 2018 (BEST POP)
SOUNDCITY MVP AWARDS 2018 (LISTENERS CHOICE – Maradona)
GLAZIA PERSONS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2018 (PERSON OF THE YEAR)
MAYA AWARDS 2018 (YOUTH ARTISTE OF THE YEAR)
HEADIES 2018 (BEST R&B/POP ALBUM – “This Is Me”)
HEADIES 2018 ( HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION)
HEADIES 2018 (BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE) – “Saro“)
SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS 2018 (BEST AFRICAN ARTIST ALBUM – “This Is Me“)
BET AWARDS 2018 (VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT)
IARA AWARDS 2018 (BEST INTERNATIONAL FEMALE ARTIST)
GHANA NAIJA SHOWBIZ AWARDS 2018 (BEST FEMALE ACT)
SOUNDCITY MVP AVARDS 2018 (Best Female MVP)
SOUNDCITY MVP AVARDS 2018 (Viewers’ Choice – “Magun Remix”)
AFRIMA AWARDS 2019 (BEST FEMALE WEST AFRICA)
AFRIMA AWARDS 2019 (BEST ARTISTE, DUO OR GROUP IN AFRICAN ELECTRO)
AFRIMA AWARDS 2019 (BEST AFRICAN DANCE OR CHOREOGRAPHY)
AFRICAN ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS USA 2019 (BEST FEMALE ARTIST CENTRAL/WEST AFRICA)
AFRIMMA 2019 (BEST FEMALE WEST AFRICA)
GRAMMY AWARDS 2020 (Songwriter & Composer, Beyoncé’s “Find Your Way Back” from “The Lion King: The Gift” album)
THE HEADIES 2020 (Best Vocal Performance [Female] – “Addicted”)
MTV Africa Music Awards 2021 (Alone Together: Best Lockdown Performance – “Niniola ft. Busiswa – Africa Day Benefit Concert”)
THE HEADIES 2022 (Best R&B single – “Promise”)
THE HEADIES 2022 (Best Vocal Performance, Female – “6th Heaven”)
THE HEADIES 2022 (Best Female Artiste)
Awards
GREEN AWARDS 2015 (MOST PROMISING FEMALE ARTISTE)
I.R.P.M CLASS OF ’15 UNILAG (NEXT RATED FEMALE ARTISTE)
SURULERE ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS 2015 (BEST FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR)
MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS 2015
AFRIMA AWARDS 2016 (Best African Collaboration (Mbilo Mbilo remix))
NIGERIAN TEENS CHOICE AWARDS 2017 (CHOICE FEMALE VOCALIST 2017)
GLAZIA PERSONS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2018 (PERSON OF THE YEAR)
MAYA AWARDS 2018 (YOUTH ARTISTE OF THE YEAR)
GHANA NAIJA SHOWBIZ AWARDS 2018 (BEST FEMALE ACT)
OKAYAFRICA’s 100 WOMEN 2019 (HONOREE)
The Headies 2020 (Best Vocal Performance Female (Addicted))
projects
ADOPT-A-CHILD’S-EDUCATION (SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM STARTED IN JULY 2015)
personality
Niniola is an easy going person, fun to be with when comfortable, Likes to listen to music and sing along (as this always brightens her day).Niniola is a Christian, her style is anything classy and very comfortable.