Lady Donli

Zainab Elizabeth Donli, known as Lady Donli, is a Nigerian musician. She is an alternative R&B, hip hop, alternative jazz and Afrobeat singer and songwriter.

Lady Donli
Born
Zainab Donli

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

Biography

Lady Donli was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the youngest of six children. She spent her early years in Abuja and Kaduna, where her dad 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 was the Evangelical Church of West Africa, where a particular style of synchronous praise-chanting had become established. She was also influenced by the music of Brenda Fassie, Angelique Kidjo, Aṣa and Erykah Badu, as well as Nigeria's pop pioneers.[3]

Donli is part of Nigeria's Alté music scene, which is known for blending sounds from multiple genres of music, including Afrobeat, R&B, and Soul.[4] She released her first project, the 12-song mixtape Love or War, in 2014.[5]

Donli has worked with new afrobeat music acts like Adekunle Gold, Nonso Amadi, Tomi Thomas, M.I Abaga, Mr Eazi, SDC, Davido, Ayüü, Odunsi (The Engine), and Tay Iwar amongst others.[6]

In 2018, Donli lent her vocals to a number of projects. She teamed up with Nigerian rapper, Boogey on 'Motion' and veteran MC Terry Tha Rapman on 'Open Letter'. She also worked with Mr Eazi on his sophomore album, 'Life is Eazi Vol.2', including a featured track off M.I Abaga's A Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl album.[7]

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

Discography
Lady Donli at the Enjoy Your Life Concert in 2020

Studio albums and EPs
  • Love or War EP (2014)[5]
  • Wallflower EP (2016)[9]
  • Letters to Her EP (2018)[10]
  • Enjoy Your Life (2019)[8]
  • WILD (2021)

Selected singles
Year Title Non-album single
2014 Mr Creeper
2016 Kashe Ni
2016 Ice Cream Ft. Tomi Thomas
2017 Poison
2018 Games
2018 Classic
2018 Comforter
2018 Work Ft. Tomi Thomas & The Forbidden
2019 Cash (Remix) Ft. Davido
2020 Wonda Wonda Ft DarkoVibes
2022 Thunderstorm in surulere(feat The Lagos Panic)
Year Title Albums
2016 Moonchild Ft. Odunsi Wallflower EP
2016 Alice Ft. D.Boi
2017 Roses for K Letters to Her EP
2017 Spell
2019 Corner Enjoy Your Life
2019 Cash
2019 Suffer Suffer

Major features
Artist Track Album Year
Terry Tha Rapman Open Letter[11] The Life of Joe Spazm 2018
Boogey Motions[12] Nouveau Niveau 2018
M.I Abaga (+-)[13] A Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl 2018
Show Dem Camp For A Minute[14] Palmwine Music 2 2018
Mr Eazi Lagos Gyration[15] Life is Eazi Vol 2: Lagos to London 2018
DRB Lasgidi Ma Pariwo[16] Pioneers 2020

Awards and nominations
Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2021 The Headies Best Alternative Song Corner Nominated [17]
2020 The Future Awards Africa Music (Endowed by Infinix) Herself Nominated [18]
2019 The Headies Best Alternative Song Cash Nominated [19]
2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best New Act of the Year Herself Nominated [20]
Nigerian Teens Choice Awards Choice Female Artist Herself Nominated [21]
2015 Choice Mixtape/EP Love or War Nominated [22]
Choice Female Artist Herself Nominated

References
  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. 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 NG. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  8. "Lady Donli's Debut Album 'Enjoy Your Life' Is Here". Okayafrica. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  9. "Lady Donli - "Wallflower"". Pulse NG. 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  10. "ESSENTIALS: LADY DONLI DEBUTS WITH 'LETTERS TO HER', A STORY OF THE LOVE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN". thenativemag. 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  11. "Terry Tha Rapman – Open Letter ft. Lady Donli [New Song]". Tooxclusive. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  12. "Lady Donli, unpacking the fast-rising talent steadily turning 10 fans into 10,000". Pulse NG. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  13. "[Song] M.I Abaga – "+-" ft. Odunsi & Lady Donli". Tooxclusive. 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  14. "Show Dem Camp - For A Minute (feat. Lady Donli)". Wildstream NG. 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  15. "Download: Mr Eazi – Lagos Gyration Ft. Lady Donli". MTVnaija. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  16. "DOWNLOAD: DRB Lasgidi – Ma Pariwo Ft. Lady Donli MP3". Illuminaija. 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  17. Headies, The (4 December 2020). "The 14th Headies nominees list". The Headies. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  18. "The Future Awards Africa: Class of 2020". The Future Awards Africa. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  19. "Headies 2019 Nominees List: Davido, Wizkid And Burna Boy Vie For Top Awards". Guardian Nigeria. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  20. "Nigerian Entertainment Awards: Full List Of Winners". Guardian Nigeria. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  21. "Nigerian Teen Choice Awards 2018 FINAL 2018 WINNERS". ntcawards. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  22. "NTCA honours 52 teens at 2015 Choice Awards". Daily Trust. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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