Abiodun Koya

Abiodun (Abi) Orinayo Koya (born 22 December 1980) is a Nigerian-born classical and operatic singer based in the United States.[1]

Abiodun Koya
Born
Abiodun Orinayo Koya
NationalityNigerian
EducationBusiness Management, University of the District of Columbia
Alma materUniversity of the District of Columbia
OccupationSinger

Biography

Born to a musical family in Ijebu-Ode, in Nigeria's Ogun State, the last of five children, Koya's father introduced classical music to his youngest daughter at the age of three. Within a few years, Koya began playing the violin and singing.[2] Koya left Nigeria in 2001 for the United States, where she studied Business Management at the University of the District of Columbia. She went on to pursue a graduate degree in music at Catholic University, in Washington D.C.[3]

Koya is fluent and literate in Yoruba.[4]

One of very few professionally trained opera singers of African origin, Koya is called the Presidents' and Kings' singer: having performed for Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire, and at such places as the White House, the US Presidential inauguration, and the Democratic National Convention.[5][6]

In 2021, Koya authored a book of 30 of her poems, titled, "The Moods of a Goddess."

Koya was the only African and opera singer to be featured on BET's gospel series, Bobby Jones Gospel.[7]

Koya's non-profit, The Abiodun Koya Foundation, engages in mentorship activities for at-risk children in Nigeria and the US through her Music Literacy Program Initiative.[8] Her charity organization also provides scholarships to young girls in many sub-Saharan African countries and supports incarcerated women throughout Nigeria.[9]

References
  1. "Our Yoruba movies turn me off – Abiodun Koya". Vanguard News. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. Group, Edward Sylvan, CEO of Sycamore Entertainment (16 January 2022). "Rising Star Abiodun Koya On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry". Authority Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Cliche (29 December 2021). "Cliché Interview with Nigerian-Born Classical Singer Abiodun Koya". Digital Online Fashion Magazine | Free Fashion Magazine | Fashion Magazine Online. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  4. "Our Yoruba movies turn me off – Abiodun Koya". Vanguard News. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  5. "About Us – Abiodun Koya Foundation". abiodunkoyafoundation.org. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  6. Ladybrille.com (15 May 2008). "Africa's Opera Divas, Chinwe Enu & Abiodun Koya ~ Ladybrille® Blogazine". Africa's Opera Divas, Chinwe Enu & Abiodun Koya ~ Ladybrille® Blogazine. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  7. "Best Bobby Jones Gospel Moments: Season 35, Episode 5". BET. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  8. "Humanitarian First, Singer Second: Nigerian-Born Soprano Abiodun Koya on Her Multi-Faceted Career". Opera Wire. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  9. "About Us – Abiodun Koya Foundation". abiodunkoyafoundation.org. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
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