Niniola

Real Name: Niniola Apata
Stage Name: Niniola
Alias: The Human Radio, Queen of Afro-House
Date of Birth: December 15, 1986
Place of Birth: Lagos State, Nigeria (hails from Ekiti State)
Label: Drumroll Records
Genre: Afro-House, Afrobeats, Amapiano, R&B
Years Active: 2013 – Present

Niniola bio

Niniola is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and performer widely celebrated as the Queen of Afro-House — the pioneer of a genre she created herself by fusing Afrobeats with house music. With three studio albums, a Grammy nomination, endorsements from Beyoncé, Drake, Timbaland, and DJ Snake, and a career spanning over a decade, she is one of the most accomplished and internationally recognised female artists to emerge from Nigeria.

Early Life & Education

Born Niniola Apata on December 15, 1986, in Lagos State, Niniola hails from Ekiti State and is the direct elder sister of fellow music star Teni. She was born into the family of the late Retired Brigadier General Simeon Olaosebikan Apata and Mrs. Margaret Apata — a polygamous household where she was the sixth of ten children raised by three mothers and a father who was tragically killed in 1995. She attended Apata Memorial High School for both primary and secondary education and later earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lagos. During secondary school, her classmates dubbed her “The Human Radio” for her remarkable ability to sing virtually any song on demand — a nickname that would later become the title of her first solo concert.

Career Beginnings

Niniola first gained national attention as the 3rd Runner-Up in the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 6 competition in 2013, where she performed her original composition “Itura” to widespread acclaim. The following year, on March 19, 2014, she released her debut single “Ibadi” — produced by Sarz — a song she coined as “Afro-House,” blending Afrobeat and house music into a genre entirely her own. The song topped national music charts, gained extensive airplay, and was included in the Season 2 soundtrack of Gidi Up. NotJustOk named her on its list of 15 Artists to Watch in 2015, and she earned a nomination for Most Promising Act to Watch at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Breakthrough

Niniola’s 2017 single “Maradona,” produced by Sarz, became her defining breakout record. The song spent 13 weeks on South Africa’s Metro FM chart and held the number 1 position for 6 weeks, becoming the most played song on radio in South Africa according to RadioMonitor SA. It also topped charts on MTV Base South, YFM, and Beat FM 99.9 Nigeria. The track earned nominations at the 2018 BET Awards and SAMAs and attracted the attention of global icons — Beyoncé sampled it to create “Find Your Way Back” from The Lion King: The Gift, earning Niniola a 2020 Grammy nomination as a songwriter and composer. Drake and Timbaland also publicly endorsed her music. In July 2018, DJ Snake collaborated with her on “Maradona Riddim,” a remix that extended the song’s global reach. That same year, she became the first female Nigerian artist to surpass 1 million monthly Spotify listeners.

Debut Album & Continued Success

On November 1, 2017, Niniola released her debut album This Is Me — a 13-track project that earned her Apple Music’s New Artist of the Month and a nomination for Best African Artist Album at the 2018 South African Music Awards. It included hit singles like “Maradona,” “Sicker,” “Boda Sodiq,” “Oyin,” and “Magun.” In 2018, she headlined her debut solo concert “The Human Radio” at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos. Her sophomore album Colours and Sounds, released in 2020, featured collaborations with Timbaland, Busiswa, Sauti Sol, Nonso Amadi, Femi Kuti, Afro B, and Sarz, and was praised for its genre-spanning ambition — blending Amapiano, Afro-House, dancehall, R&B, and Afrofusion.

Continued Evolution

In 2021, Niniola released the 6th Heaven EP — a 5-track pure R&B project for fans who wanted a softer, more intimate side of her artistry. She released singles including “I Did It (Bum Bum),” “Shisha,” “All Eyes on Me,” and “Maria” (with Black Culture) in 2021–2023. Her third studio album Press Play, released on September 13, 2024 via Drumroll Records, blended her signature Afro-House style with Amapiano across 14 tracks, featuring Pheelz, Magicsticks, OSKIDO, Akeem Adisa, Kah-Lo, and Smangori. In 2025, she continued releasing singles including “Ginger Me (Alum),” “Belle,” “Excited,” and “Electrical.”

Awards & Recognition

Grammy nomination – Songwriter/Composer on Beyoncé’s “Find Your Way Back” (2020)
Two-time Grammy nominee
Headies Award – Best Vocal Performance, Female (14th edition)
Soundcity MVP Awards – Best Female Artist (2018)
AFRIMA – Best African Female Act (2019)
BET Awards – Viewers’ Choice Best New International Act nomination (2018)
South African Music Awards – Best African Artist Album nomination (2018)
First female Nigerian artist to reach 1 million monthly Spotify listeners (2018)
45+ award nominations and wins across her career

Recent Developments

Niniola continues to release music and perform internationally, having appeared on Spinall’s Top Boy album and DJ Snake’s remix of “Maradona.” Her 2024 album Press Play and 2025 singles confirm her ongoing creative momentum. She remains one of Africa’s most powerful live performers and a trailblazer for female artists across the continent.

Legacy

Niniola’s invention and ownership of the Afro-House genre, combined with Grammy recognition, global chart success, and endorsements from the world’s biggest music icons, place her firmly among the legends of Nigerian and African music. Her story — from losing her father at eight, to performing at Project Fame, to Beyoncé sampling her music — is one of extraordinary resilience and artistry.