Nigerian singer Folarin Odunlami, popularly known as Fola, has opened up about the early struggles that shaped his rise in the music industry.
Speaking in a snippet from his upcoming documentary with Spotify’s Radar, the “Alone” crooner revealed that he invested all his money in a music project in 2022, hoping it would earn him recognition, but the effort didn’t yield success.
Despite the disappointment, Fola said he refused to give up and kept pushing his craft until his consistency began to pay off the following year.
“Music matters so much to me because it’s an amazing thing, you can touch people without even meeting them,” he said.
“In 2022, I put all my money into a music project, but I didn’t blow. Before then, even on campus, people didn’t recognize me. But just a year later, I can’t even walk around school freely because of fame,” he added.
Fola’s perseverance eventually paid off when he was signed to Bella Shmurda’s label, Dagbana Republik, in October 2024, marking a major turning point in his career.
Since releasing his breakout single “Alone,” Fola has continued to rise, collaborating with top Afrobeats stars including Wizkid and Kizz Daniel.
About the Author
