Teni: A Shining Afrobeats Star

“I grew up in Okota Isolo, Ire-Akari in Lagos, and moved to Atlanta to study at university. I grew up surrounded by a lot of siblings and family members in the house. I think at a time we were twenty something in my house. Growing up was fun.”

“I learnt how to sing from Nini. I would be punished if I didn't get it right. I would be rewarded with her special milk balls if I got it right. I have been in front of a camera since I was 2 years old. I used to play the drums. I’ve played for Governor Marwa, Governor Fashola and Tinubu.”

“Growing up I would listen to Funmi Aragbaye which my mum played every morning. My step mom is Igbo and lived upstairs, and she played Osita Osadebe. My other step mom lived downstairs and she used to play Baba Ara and Indian music. Growing up I used to listen to all kinds of music including King Ayinde Wasiu Marshal, King Sunny Adé and Ebenezer Obey.”

“I have always been the class clown. My classmates would start laughing at everything I would say. I'm that kid who used to get into trouble, because I could not shut up. I guess I have a gift in making people a little happier.”

"My mom once told me; be yourself and the world will accept you for who you are. Be yourself and the world will be okay.”

“I decided to start making music while I was at university in Atlanta. I didn't like to party, I didn't drink and I didn't smoke. I enjoyed playing basketball but I was bored. There was a recording studio at my university and I used to go there and just record. That’s how I professionally started recording, because I was bored.”

“One day I was in my friend’s house and everybody went out. I was the only one at home with my friend’s younger sister. She was like Bolaji record me, but she said no. I took the phone and I did a freestyle called ‘Faaji’. It went viral online. Everyone loved it and that's how music started for me professionally.”

“To me, Afrobeat is anything that has an African element. Afro and then beat. If I add something like gangan to my song, I can decide to call it Afrobeat. I guess that’s just my opinion. People say Afrobeat was created by Fela Kuti, and what he said was all about putting African sound together.“

"I think music started in Africa. If you look at Yoruba culture for example, we have songs for everything. We have folklores and orin owe, when you insult someone in proverbs. We have songs for when you give birth and we have songs for weddings. The stars are aligned for Afrobeat and it will spread to the world. Afrobeat is going to be here for a long time.”

"I always tell people, better live your best life. You just don’t know when you will die. I try my possible best to be happy.”