‘The past one year has been very interesting I must say, because I dropped singles like “Shaba”, “Start all over”, “Jigi jigi”, and “Maradona” (which I just released) and the reception has been amazing’ – Niniola

Talking about some of the most successful female artistes in the Nigerian music industry today without including Niniola will be total injustice or ignorance at the highest level. She’s one of the few with a huge cult followership that’s enough to tilt sales numbers for any brand within her target audience. Her consistency is contagious; she has been dropping relevant singles for her audience for years now and her sheer persistence is a reflection of how far she has come. For those who are yet to warm up to her, I will tell you that this lady is much ahead in the game. I won’t need any apology to say that Nini’s music is gradually becoming part of the soundtrack of today’s industry. I had a conversation with her recently. Check it out!

Kindly describe what you and your music have been up to in the last one year?

The past one year has been very interesting I must say, because I dropped singles like “Shaba”, “Start all over”, “Jigi jigi”, and “Maradona” (which I just released) and the reception has been amazing. I had the opportunity to tour the United States where I also performed to not just the Nigerian crowd but also the foreigners who received me well and actually knew my songs and sang along. Shot a couple of videos while I was away which I have actually released. The past year has been awesome; also I had the opportunity to grace the stage with KSA on his birthday. Baba can still dance o (laughs). We thank God for everything as we look forward to the album now, because the fans have been asking so much for it. So they are definitely going to get it (laughs).

You are listed among the hardest working females in the industry today, what is driving you and what do you intend to achieve?

Oh really? I thank God for that… Yes my driving force is
God, determination, perseverance and the fact that I have a team that will take nothing less from me. They are always on my case right from inception to creation to performance. And yes the fact that I need to make money also gingers me ooo (laughs)!

Kindly describe the story behind your last three singles?

My last three singles have different story lines. The latest single “Maradona” is about a woman narrating her painful ordeal with her boyfriend who is a terrible womanizer and even goes to the extent of cheating on her with her friends. While “Jigi Jigi” is a happy-go-lucky song in which the singer is thankful for life and how far she’s come (jigi jigi lori ogiri, that means ‘mirror mirror on the wall, tell me is this really me?’) as well as the fact that she is also in a happy relationship. “Shaba” is a song of prayer for more blessings and jubilation; I just put that in a dance form basically (laughs).

When should your audience expect your album?

My album will be dropping this year by the grace of God; we have been working day and night to finish it early so that my people won’t wait too long.

If I am not mistaken, you seem to have a sister in the music industry, tell us about her?

Yes I do. Her name is Teni and she’s very talented. Hmm, what else can I tell you now? Oh! She is very funny, never a dull moment (laughs).

– Sesan Adeniji

Culled from Mystreetz Magazine