TENI

Nigerian singer and songwriter Teni is known for uplifting, stylistically eclectic songs that stand apart from her Afro-pop contemporaries. She first came to prominence in 2018, when a series of songs including "Case" found a streaming audience numbering in the millions. Her debut EP, Billionaire, followed in 2019.

Teniola Apata was born into a family that both stressed education and encouraged music from a young age. Her older sister is Afro-house singer Niniola. Teni attended a school in Lagos run by her parents, then studied business administration at American Intercontinental University in Atlanta before devoting her attention to music.

She signed with Magic Fingers Records to release her first song, "Amen," in 2016. Moving to Dr. Dolor Entertainment the following year, her second track, "Fargin," found a broader audience, and the year 2018 brought mainstream hits like "Case" and "Uyo Meyo." She presented her first EP, Billionaire, in 2019 and was nominated for a BET Award for Best New International Act and an MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act. Still with Dr. Dolor, Teni teamed up with DJ Neptune on the next year's The Quarantine Playlist EP. ~ Marcy Donelson