Wikipedia

Lady Donli

Zainab Elizabeth Donli, known professionally as Lady Donli, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter associated with Alté music. Her music incorporates elements of alternative R&B, hip hop, jazz, and Afrobeats.

Lady Donli
Born
Zainab Donli

Cleveland, Ohio
EducationUniversity of Surrey
OccupationSinger
Known forAlternative rock, alternative R&B[1] and Afrobeat
Websiteladydonli.com

Biography

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Donli was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and is the youngest of six children. She spent her early years in Abuja and Kaduna, where her father is from. After her secondary school education, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she obtained a degree in law from the University of Surrey.[2] Donli's earliest musical influence came from the Evangelical Church of West Africa and its style of synchronous praise-chanting. She was also influenced by the music of Brenda Fassie, Angelique Kidjo, Aṣa, and Erykah Badu, as well as Nigeria's pop musicians.[3]

Donli is associated with Nigeria's Alté music, a fusion genre that combines elements of several genres, including Afrobeat, R&B, and soul.[4] She released her debut 12-track mixtape, Love or War, in 2014.[5] Donli has worked with artists such as Adekunle Gold, Nonso Amadi, Tomi Thomas, M.I Abaga, Mr Eazi, SDC, Davido, Ayüü, Odunsi the Engine, and Tay Iwar, among others.[6]

In 2018, Donli provided vocals for Boogey's "Motion" and Terry Tha Rapman's "Open Letter". That same year, she collaborated with Mr Eazi on "Lagos Gyration", which appeared on his second mixtape Lagos to London (2018). She was also featured on "+-" from M.I Abaga's fourth studio album A Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl.[7]

In 2019, Donli released her debut album, Enjoy Your Life.[8][5]

Discography

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Lady Donli at the Enjoy Your Life Concert in 2020

Studio albums

EPs

  • Love or War (2014)
  • Wallflower (2016)
  • Letters to Her (2018)
  • Wild (2021)

Selected singles

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Year Title Non-album single
2014 "Mr Creeper"
2016 "Kashe Ni"
2016 "Ice Cream" (featuring Tomi Thomas)
2017 "Poison"
2018 "Games"
2018 "Classic"
2018 "Comforter"
2018 "Work" (featuring Tomi Thomas and The Forbidden)
2019 "Cash" (Remix) (featuring Davido)
2020 "Wonda Wonda" (featuring Darkovibes)
2022 "Thunderstorm in Surulere" (featuring The Lagos Panic)

Major features

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Artist Track Album Year
Terry Tha Rapman "Open Letter"[9] The Life of Joe Spazm 2018
Boogey "Motions"[10] Nouveau Niveau 2018
M.I Abaga "+-"[11] A Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl 2018
Show Dem Camp "For A Minute"[12] Palmwine Music 2 2018
Mr Eazi "Lagos Gyration"[13] Life is Eazi Vol 2: Lagos to London 2018
DRB LasGidi "Ma Pariwo"[14] Pioneers 2020

Awards and nominations

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Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2021 The Headies Best Alternative Song "Corner" Nominated [15]
2020 The Future Awards Africa Music (Endowed by Infinix) Herself Nominated [16]
2019 The Headies Best Alternative Song "Cash" Nominated [17]
2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best New Act of the Year Herself Nominated [18]
Nigerian Teens Choice Awards Choice Female Artist Herself Nominated [19]
2015 Choice Mixtape/EP Love or War Nominated [20]
Choice Female Artist Herself Nominated

References

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  1. ↑ TV, BN (24 January 2022). "Lady Donli brings her vibrant energy to ColorsxStudios with a sparkling performance of her new single". bellanaija.com. BellaNaija. Retrieved 6 September 2022. Alternative R&B and Afrobeat singer Lady Donli brings her vibrant energy to ColorsxStudios with a sparkling performance of her brand new single.
  2. ↑ Ehirim, Nnamdi (2020-02-17). "Lady Donli and the Birth of a Pan-African Rockstar". The Republic. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  3. ↑ Akan, Joey (2018-08-10). "Lady Donli wants you to live your best life". The Fader. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  4. ↑ Adegoke, Yemisi (2019-09-23). "Alté, Nigeria's emancipated pop scene: 'People aren't used to being free'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  5. 1 2 Peter, Dennis Ade (8 August 2019). "Lady Donli Is Ready To Enjoy Her Life". Thenativemag. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Get Familiar With Nigeria's Rising Music Star:Lady Donli". Ndani TV. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  7. ↑ Ohunyon, Ehis (2018-08-10). "Lady Donli, unpacking the fast-rising talent steadily turning 10 fans into 10,000". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  8. ↑ "Lady Donli's Debut Album 'Enjoy Your Life' Is Here". Okayafrica. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  9. ↑ "Terry Tha Rapman – Open Letter ft. Lady Donli [New Song]". Tooxclusive. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  10. ↑ "Lady Donli, unpacking the fast-rising talent steadily turning 10 fans into 10,000". Pulse Nigeria. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  11. ↑ "[Song] M.I Abaga – "+-" ft. Odunsi & Lady Donli". Tooxclusive. 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  12. ↑ "Show Dem Camp - For A Minute (feat. Lady Donli)". Wildstream NG. 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  13. ↑ "Download: Mr Eazi – Lagos Gyration Ft. Lady Donli". MTVnaija. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  14. ↑ "DOWNLOAD: DRB Lasgidi – Ma Pariwo Ft. Lady Donli MP3". Illuminaija. 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  15. ↑ Headies, The (4 December 2020). "The 14th Headies nominees list". The Headies. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "The Future Awards Africa: Class of 2020". The Future Awards Africa. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Headies 2019 Nominees List: Davido, Wizkid And Burna Boy Vie For Top Awards". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Nigerian Entertainment Awards: Full List Of Winners". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "Nigerian Teen Choice Awards 2018 FINAL 2018 WINNERS". ntcawards. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "NTCA honours 52 teens at 2015 Choice Awards". Daily Trust. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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