LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Tracing his journey from managing a modest betting shop in Ibadan to carving a space for himself in Nigeria’s competitive music scene, fast-rising Nigerian singer Fola has shared the struggles that shaped his journey and growing success.
In a recent interview, the singer recounted how his music journey began in a small secondary school band, long before he imagined fame. Fola said music was already a major part of his life, even though it wasn’t a professional pursuit at the time.
“I started making music in secondary school, obviously not professionally, but I had a band I was playing with,” he said.
However, the period after graduation proved far more challenging. With little financial support and no personal phone, Fola revealed he had to depend on a friend just to stay connected and push his passion forward.
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“It was difficult for me because I didn’t even have a phone. I was using my guy’s phone to do stuff,” he recalled.
Realizing that his immediate environment offered limited opportunities, Fola decided to earn money any way he could. He began working at his father’s small betting shop in Ibadan, taking on multiple responsibilities to support himself.
“I checked my environment and it wasn’t encouraging, so I started working at a bet shop owned by my dad. I worked as a manager and cashier so that I could raise some money for myself,” Fola explained.
That phase of his life eventually paved the way for a major breakthrough. Fola said relocating to Lagos changed everything, opening doors to meaningful connections that would shape his career. One of those connections was the late Mohbad, whom he credited as a major influence on his growth.
“I met Mohbad. Mohbad did a lot of things for me,” he said.
Through Mohbad, Fola was introduced to Bella Shmurda, and they collaborated in 2022. Bella Shmurda reportedly agreed to work with him without expecting financial gain.
“The gap was so much between us, but Bella did it anyway even when he wasn’t going to make a dime out of it,” Fola added.
Looking back at the obstacles, sacrifices and unexpected support along the way, Fola expressed deep gratitude for his progress so far.
“I thank God for where we are today,” he said.
