Niyola

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Niyola

| image = Niyola on The Jiuce 2014 Ndanitv.png

| image_size =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption = 2014 on "The Juice"

| birth_name = Eniola Akimbo

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|12|09|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria

| origin =

| death_date =

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| genre = {{hlist|Soul|jazz}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|actress}}

| instrument =

| years_active = 2005–present

| label = Empire Mates Entertainment

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Banky W.|Wizkid|Shaydee|DJ Xclusive|Skales|Sasha P|Sound Sultan|Paul Play|Lynxxx}}

| website =

}}

Eniola Akinbo ({{Audio|Yo-Eniola Akinbo.ogg|Listen|help=no}}; born 9 December 1985), known professionally as Niyola, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, performing artist and actress.{{cite web |date=10 October 2015 |title=Singer NIYOLA Full Biography, Life And News |url=http://www.takemetonaija.com/2015/10/singer-niyola-full-biographylife-and.html |accessdate=20 February 2016 |publisher=This Is Naija}}

Early life

Akinbo was born on 9 December 1985, in Lagos, Nigeria. The youngest of ten children, she sang in church with her siblings and was inspired to pursue a career in music after attending a Funmi Adams concert.[http://music.partyjollof.com/artists/niyola Niyola], PartyJollof, Retrieved 3 October 2016 Niyola emerged runner up in the Amen Starlet competition in 2000.

Career

She began her professional music career in 2005 and was briefly affiliated with eLDee’s Trybe Records. Following her stint at Trybe, she signed a production deal with Make Sum Noise Entertainment. Niyola’s first three singles "Me n U (In Da Club)", "No More" and "Dem Say" were released under the imprint.{{cite web |title=Empire Mate$ Entertainment |url=http://www.empirematesentertainment.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412230940/http://empirematesentertainment.com/ |archive-date=12 April 2011 |website=www.empirematesentertainment.com}} In 2012, Niyola signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment.{{cite web|title=eme records signs niyola|date=10 June 2012|url=http://www.jaguda.com/2012/06/10/e-m-e-records-signs-niyola-as-first-lady/|publisher=jaguda.com|accessdate=10 June 2012}} On 22 May 2013, she released the single "Toh Bad", her first release under the label.{{cite web|title=Niyola - Toh Bad|url=http://www.mp3naija.com.ng/music/9281|publisher=mp3naija.com|accessdate=30 July 2014}}

Discography

Niyola (2008){{Cite web |last=Odujole |first=Jadesola |date=2016-05-20 |title=Exclusive: Niyola dishes on New Music, her Long-awaited Album, Mentoring & Love in this Interview with BN |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2016/05/exclusive-niyola-dishes-on-new-music-her-long-awaited-album-mentoring-love-in-this-interview-with-bn/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=BellaNaija |language=en-US}}

Filmography

Swallow (2021) as Tolani Ajao{{cite web|url=https://readysteadycut.com/2021/10/01/review-swallow-2021-netflix-film/|title=Swallow (2021) review – this is hard to swallow.|website=Ready Steady Cut|date=October 2021 |access-date=2 October 2021}}
Stalker (2016) as Niyola

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year !width="250"\| Awards ceremony !width="450"\| Award description(s) !width="75" \| Results
rowspan="2"\|2013 \|The Headies \|Best Vocal Performance (Female) \|{{nom}}
Nigeria Entertainment Awards \|Most Promising Female Act to Watch \|{{nom}}
2014 \|Nigeria Entertainment Awards \|Female Artist of the Year \|{{nom}}

class="wikitable"

Year

!width="250"| Awards ceremony

!width="450"| Award description(s)

!width="75" | Results

rowspan="2"|2013

|The Headies

|Best Vocal Performance (Female)

|{{nom}}

Nigeria Entertainment Awards

|Most Promising Female Act to Watch

|{{nom}}