Niniola & Teniola: Two Converse Singing Sisters

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

They both are children of late educationist and founder of popular Apata Memorial Schools, Isolo, Lagos – Chief Simeon Olaosebikan Apata.  The two blood sisters, Niniola and Teniola Apata are among the fast rising stars changing the face of the music industry in Nigeria. While Niniola hit the limelight as a runner-up at the MTN Project Fame West Africa 2013, her younger sister, Teniola hogged the limelight following the release of her freestyle Fargin, a song that rocked the airwaves both in the United States and in Nigeria. “I recall that my elder sister, Niniola, and I used to disturb everyone at home the with our music sessions, so it has always been part of us,” said Teniola, simply known as Teni.

Many have likened them to Nigeria’s Beyonce and Solange Knowles, but the ladies of songs have said that theirs is different as they are two different brands trying to take over the world. There is indeed a gale of expressions on the part of the two sisters. They are gradually creeping out of the underground scene to the front burner of the industry radar. Niniola, the older of the sisters, is a performer, singer and songwriter. As a finalist of the popular music talent hunt show, this piggybacked her into the Nigerian entertainment scene with her hit and debut single Ibadi in 2015. The song topped many music charts both locally and internationally which created no doubt that she is among the most promising acts in the music industry.

For Teniola, right from age 7, she played drums at festivals with governors (past and present) in attendance including Buba Marwa and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu). So, music has always been in her DNA. When this 25-year old singer and songwriter went to America to study Business Administration and Marketing at America InterContinental University in Atlanta, at a point, it became glaring to her that it wasn’t quite where her heart was. So, while pursuing her academic endeavor, Teni equally gave her passion in music of same dose. She however made a name for herself on YouTube six years ago, where she performed comedy just to get comfortable on screen. Her fans loved it, but they liked it even more when she sang. So Teni incorporated her voice into her videos and her fans were hooked.

Explaining the origin and what Fargin mean, Teni said Fargin is the same as “Virgin” but said with a Yoruba accent. “I was bored one day and freestyled off my friend’s phone and that was it. Fargin is a common Nigerian conversation of men trying to seduce young girl into sex. But honestly, this song is about sex education and rape culture in the African community. I want to inspire women to be confident in being virgins, and that it is okay to wait. It is okay to practice safe sex even if it’s not cool. I hope when young girls hear this song, they understand that they don’t have to be pressured to have unprotected sex. I’m a virgin and I’m very proud of that.”

Obviously, from the buzz she’s been enjoying of late, Teni is a bundle of talents. Like Niniola, her sister, she is one singer with distinct style and vocals. A big fan of indigenous rapper Olamide,  Teni has her kind of music rooted in local hip hop flavour. The big-sized lady is also a playful singer with some bit of ‘razzness’ as can be listened to in most of her songs.

How did the song start to spread on social media? Teni has been doing comedy for some time on Instagram and YouTube. So, when she started to sing, people took note of that. She later posted the Fargin video on Instagram and it went viral. On the first few weeks, the video had over 153,000 views and currently heading to 700,000 views. It then spread to Twitter and Facebook. But the viewership surged when Falz reposted it, followed by Small Doctor and the rest was history.

“I would say with social media, it’s a matter of consistency and putting yourself out there. Something is bound to take off. I believe that once you open your mouth to ask God for something, it’s a matter time before he gives it to you,” Teni said in one of her interviews.

On how she could best described her sound, Teni feels her sound is generic. “It’s different and people love the authenticity in my voice,” she said.

Teni is signed to Oluwaseyi Akerele popularly known as Shizzi’s Magic Fingers. The feel good singer feels blessed signed to work with the experienced producer and hitmaker who has lend his magical finger on the works of top acts like Davido, Wizkid, Wande Coal, Meek Mill, and Runtown. “It’s the best feeling in the world. I feel blessed to be signed to my brother. He gives me the freedom to explore different sounds. Shizzi is someone that I’ve learnt so much from and there’s no better person to share greatness with, than him. He believed in me since the first time I met him in 2013,” said Teni.

Speaking of her little sister’s rising music career, Niniola said: “Teniola is my baby sister and when her song, Fargin trended, I felt very good. I remember we used to sing together on the stairs in our house with our other siblings and relatives. There were times when we would stick our heads out of the window singing and shouting.

“I am very happy about my sister’s growth because it means that I would not have to look over my shoulder to know if she is moving up the ladder of success. I remember when she was coming into the music industry, she told me that she did not want to be in my shadow and I agreed with her. She just decided to come into the industry on her own bearing her name, Teni, and not Niniola’s sister.”

When Teni was asked to comment on her sister and how her works affect her own push for success? She said: “I’m proud of her and how she has accomplished by setting good examples and laying a good path. Her work doesn’t affect me rather it encourages and inspires me to be a better musician…

“Since I was little, she has always been there for me. She has made me grounded and to understand certain things about music. She also told me to go out and prove myself. As long as my sister is in my life, I am happy. Our happiness is the most important thing to me, even before music. Till date, she makes sure I don’t go astray in anything I do in life,” Teni summed.

The sisters both have had their works appreciated and nominated for different big awards. While Niniola was nominated for 2018 BET Awards Viewers’ Choice, his little sister, Teni bagged nomination at the Headies 2018 as the Rookie of the year!