Nigerian Afrohouse sensation Niniola Apata has shed light on a defining choice in her music career: turning down record label deals to remain an independent artist.
In a candid interview with Hip TV, the 38-year-old hitmaker, best known for chart-toppers like ‘Maradona’ ‘Sicker’, “All Eyes on Me” and “Ibadi,” revealed that despite multiple offers from record labels after her breakout in 2014, she chose a path less traveled, all in the name of preserving her creative freedom.
“After I released Ibadi, several record labels came calling,” Niniola shared. “But I was skeptical. I didn’t want anyone taking away my creative freedom.”
At the time, her genre of choice, Afrohouse — a fusion of African rhythms and house music — was not widely embraced in Nigeria’s mainstream scene. That, she explained, made her even more cautious.
“You know how labels can be,” she said. “They invest in you and then want you to fit a certain mold. That wasn’t something I could live with.”
Instead, Niniola and her then-manager, now business partner, took a bold step and created their own label — a move that has kept her in control of her sound for over a decade. “It has its pros and cons,” she admitted. “But being independent has allowed me to be myself fully.”
Even as the Afrohouse genre gained traction, Niniola said she continued to receive offers from major labels — none of which, she noted, felt right.
Her commitment to her unique musical style has paid off. Often referred to as the Queen of Afrohouse, Niniola has not only pioneered the genre in Nigeria but also added her personal flair to it. “Afrohouse is African style meets house music — and then I bring in my own spice,” she explained. “I sing in Yoruba, and people once questioned whether that would work long-term. But here I am.”
Niniola’s story is a testament to staying true to one’s art in an industry where compromise is often the currency. “At the end of the day,” she said, “you just need to be yourself, pray, be thankful, and everything will fall into place.”
