Folarin Odunlami, known by his stage name Fola, is a rising
Nigerian singer-songwriter blending soulful vocals with Afrobeats rhythms. Born
on April 26, 2000, in Lagos State, Nigeria, he grew up in a Christian household.
His father plays keyboard and his mother sings in church, so music runs in his family
even though no one was a professional musician. Fola began singing in junior
secondary school as part of a four-man band, but paused after graduation due to
lack of resources. He later moved to Lagos on the encouragement of a cousin,
where he connected with other musicians and, as he recalls, “from there, God
took over, and here we are”.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Fola’s official music career kicked off in 2022. His debut
single “Ginger Me” (2022) featuring Bella Shmurda quickly made waves, earning
him a deal with Bella’s Dangbana Republik label. He spent six years “honing his
craft” before that debut, and the polished result paid off. In 2024, Fola
followed up with “Alone” (ft. BhadBoi OML), a heartfelt track that topped
charts and was later remixed with Nigerian star BNXN (Buju). That success set
the stage for his first EP.
Fola’s debut EP "What A Feeling" (late 2024)
solidified his breakout. Debuting at No. 5 on Apple Music Nigeria's Top Albums
chart, the six-track project features collaborations with Bella Shmurda,
Magixx, and BhadBoi OML. By early 2025, Fola was even collaborating with Kizz
Daniel, their single “Lost” was released in April 2025 and racked up over a
million streams in just days.
Popular Songs and Collaborations by Fola
- “Ginger Me” (2022): Fola’s debut single (feat. Bella Shmurda) that launched his career. The flirty Afropop track introduced his smooth vocals and got industry attention.
- “Alone” (2024): A breakthrough hit (ft. BhadBoi OML) that
topped streaming charts in Nigeria. Its remix with BNXN amplified the song’s
reach.
- “Who Does That?” (2023): Bella Shmurda’s song featuring
Fola, which has over 15 million streams on Spotify. This emotive duet exposed
Fola to a wider audience.
- “Lost” (2025): A collaboration with Kizz Daniel. Fola
recorded his part remotely and sent it to Kizz, later celebrating that “in just
two days…we had hit about a million streams on Spotify”. The track explores
love’s ups and downs.
- “Get Better” (2025): A motivational single featuring
Zlatan Ibile. Released as he gears up for his debut album, it continues Fola’s
pattern of teaming up with top names.
Other releases include early singles like “First Things
First”, “Money Chaser”, and “My Lady”, as well as a 2023 tribute single to the
late Mohbad. He’s also appeared on songs with Bella Shmurda and others, steadily
building his resume. (Despite some fan chatter, there’s no public record of an
official collaboration between Fola and veteran rapper Eedris OBL as of 2025.)
Social Media Presence
Fola actively engages fans online. His Instagram profile is @folapondis, where he posts music clips and lifestyle updates. On X (formerly Twitter), he is @Folapondis. His profile on TikTok is @folapondis__ ; with his danceable content and music previews, he has gained a huge following (approximately 300K+ followers as of mid-2025). His music videos and live shows are hosted on an official YouTube channel, "FOLA". Through these platforms, he keeps fans updated on new releases and tour dates.
Fola’s Upcoming Projects
Fola’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. In April 2025, he
announced that his debut full-length album is coming later that year. Details
of the album itself are being kept under wraps, but he has given fans at least
one teaser of a new single ahead of its release. In interviews, he's seemed
ambitious on reaching even greater heights: he's quoted as eyeing
collaborations with superstars like Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and Olamide
next. In the meantime, he'll keep releasing new singles, and he won't use the
same formula – as he puts it, "I don't have a fixed process; when
creativity hits, it hits". Expect more Afro-flavored R&B and big-name
features on the path to his debut album.
Net Worth
As an emerging artist, Fola’s earnings are growing but
modest. As of 2025, his net worth is around $150,000. This figure reflects
income from music streams, digital sales, and live shows.
Conclusion
Fola (Folarin Odunlami) has rapidly built a name in
Nigeria’s Afro-pop scene. From humble beginnings in Lagos school bands to
topping charts alongside stars like Bella Shmurda and Kizz Daniel, his story
exemplifies talent meeting opportunity. Watch for his debut album and continued
growth.
