Teni, real name Teniola Apata, is a 29-year-old Nigerian singer and songwriter who rose to prominence after the release of her top hits “Askamaya,” “Case,” and “Uyo Meyo.” Teni was born on December 23, 1992.

Teni, the Afropop music sensation from Nigeria, continues to be one of the most in-demand and popular singers, songwriters, and entertainers in the Nigerian entertainment industry. The gifted musician is committed to changing the landscape of Nigerian music and making a difference.

She became more well-known after releasing her first song, “Amen,” in 2016. Many believe that the successful song “Case” by Teni is more of a family anthem in most Nigerian families. She received numerous awards as a result, including the Soundcity MVP Awards for The Best New Female Artiste and the coveted Headies Award as the Rookie of the Year in 2018.

Teni was Born and Raised in Lagos, But She is Originally From Ekiti State

Teniola Apata, also referred to as Teni or Teni The Entertainer, was born in Lagos State on December 12, 1992. She grew up with her nine siblings, including her older sister Niniola, a well-known singer. Many of Teni’s followers are unaware that she is an Ekiti state native, despite the fact that she was born in Lagos.

Teni had always loved sports since she was a little child; she became passionate about playing basketball and football and also spent some of her free time playing video games. She joined the school band at a young age, but her passion of music has always outweighed her desire for sports. Teni attended Apata Memorial High School Lagos, one of her late father’s educational legacies, in her pursuit of knowledge.

Nevertheless, after receiving admission to the American Intercontinental University in the USA, she departed Nigeria after completing her secondary education. She obtained a Business Administration degree there. Her time spent in the west undoubtedly influenced her musical career and gave her the inspiration and fortitude to persevere in the face of adversity in the Nigerian music industry. If one wants to make any real headway as a female artist in this field, she must compromise the dignity of the feminine figure. Teni, on the other hand, prefers to be true to herself and pay little attention to what others think or expect of her, therefore this is not in line with her style or philosophy.

The Singer Lost Her Father when She was Two

Her father is an educator in addition to valiantly serving the nation as an army officer. In Lagos, he established the renowned Apata Memorial High School (boarding), a center of study infused with military discipline, back in 1980. Teni frequently praised her father, calling him “a genius and a man deserving of idolization”; her song “Dad’s Song” from her debut album, “Wondaland,” was inspired by him.

Teni’s father, former Brigadier General Apata, was tragically killed on January 8, 1995, when she was just two years old. Teni maintains a close link with her mother, and the two have always gotten along well. On the other hand, nothing is known about Teni’s mother because she made the decision to keep a low profile. She frequently shares cute photos of her mother on Instagram while paying tribute to her. Currently, Teni’s mother resides in Lagos.

Teni is not the Most Popular Among Her Siblings

The Afropop diva is the ninth child of her parents, who have a total of ten children. Niniola, a prominent personality in the Nigerian music industry, is one of her siblings and also a musician. Even before her younger sister entered the spotlight, she began creating waves in the industry. However, little is known about her other siblings because Teni rarely discusses them with the public. Although they are only seen in the famous sisters’ priceless family photos. Furthermore, the absence of any recorded disputes between the siblings points to their close bonds.

She Graced the Spotlight with the Release of Her Debut Single ‘Amen’ in 2016

Teni entered the entertainment industry after her debut song, “Amen,” was released. Her first record company, Shizzi Magic Fingers, created the song in 2016. But Teni made the decision to quit Shizzi’s in 2017 for Dr. Dolor Entertainment, where she released another popular hit in September called “Fargin,” for reasons that are best known to her.

However, Teni didn’t really break through in the Nigerian music scene until 2018 when she launched the smash hits “Askamaya,” “Case,” and “Uyo Meyo,” which garnered her millions of fans both at home and abroad.

Here is a list of additional Teni’s most well-known songs.

• ‘Amen’ – 2016
• ‘Fargin’ – 2017
• ‘Wait’ – 2018
• ‘Pareke’ – 2018
• ‘Lagos’ – 2018
• ‘Askamaya’ – 2018
• ‘Fake Jersey’ – 2018
• ‘Shake Am’ – 2018
• ‘Case’ – 2018
• ‘Pray’ – 2018
• ‘Uyo Meyo’ – 2018
• ‘Party Next Door’ – 2019
• ‘Sugar Mummy’ – 2019
• ‘Power Rangers’ – 2019

Some of Her featured singles include:

• ‘Rambo’ (Dr. Dolor featuring Teni) – 2018
• ‘Pray’ (Dr. Dolor featuring Teni and Phyno) – 2018
• ‘Aye Kan’ (Shizzi featuring Teni and Mayorkun) – 2018
• ‘Murder’ (King Perry featuring Teni) – 2018

Most of these tracks remain dear to millions of her fans who are eagerly waiting to get more from the Afropop songstress Teni.

Teni has Earned Several Recognitions and Awards

Even though Teni hasn’t yet reached the pinnacle of her profession, she has made significant progress in terms of accolades and recognition in a short period of time. Among her accolades are

• The Headies Rookie of the Year awards 2018;
• Soundcity MVP Awards Festival Best New Artist 2018;
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards: Most Promising Act to Watch 2018;
• The Headies Best Pop Single (Case) 2019;
• The Headies, Best Recording of the Year “Uyo Meyo”  2019;
• The Headies Viewer’s Choice Award 2019;
• The Headies Best Vocal Performance (Female) “Uyo Meyo” Award 2019;
• Soundcity MVP Awards, Best female MVP 2020.

Similarly, Teni has also got several nominations, and notable among them are-

• BET Awards Best New International Act, 2019;
• The Headies Song of the Year (Case);
• The Headies Best R&B Single 2019;
• MTV Europe Music Awards Best African Act 2019.

A well-known Nigerian internet music portal called NotJustOk.com also placed her seventh on their list of the 10 Hottest Artists In Nigeria. She was listed as one of the six Nigerian viral sensations of 2018 by Premium Times. Teni once more appeared on the list of YouTube Music’s Trending Artist on the Rise on February 20, 2019.

Teni’s Lucrative Endorsements Deals with Top Brands

With Teni’s impressive resume of accomplishments, it is only natural for brands and businesses to be drawn to her. She has undoubtedly had her fair share of endorsements. Among them is a partnership with TomTom created by Cadbury Nigeria. She signed the contract on March 26, 2019, and among other things, on July 12, 2019, she became a brand ambassador for Wema Bank Nigeria’s alat ng program.

Controversies About the Singer

Notably, Teni’s path to stardom was not entirely smooth because she frequently raised eyebrows by defying the body-exposure rules of the Nigerian music business. In contrast to other female performers who made it their selling point to display their bodies to the enjoyment of male listeners, she would rather dress extremely nicely, trying to create a positive paradigm shift in the industry.

Again, Teni is not a big fan of living a luxury lifestyle and tries to act modestly in all of her transactions. Due of her approach, she has drawn harsh criticism from others in the entertainment world, yet despite this, she has maintained her position and continued on.