A date with Nikki

When you think of eclectic musical expressions and captivating stage performances, Nikki Laoye comes to mind.  She is a multi-award winning Nigerian recording artiste, songwriter and dancer.

Born as Oyenike Laoye-Oturu, the urban contemporary Christian artiste, who stages as Nikki Laoye, is beyond musical performances.  A humanitarian and founder of Angel 4 Life Foundation, her passion for humanitarian activities recently attracted the attention of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced persons (NCFRMI), which appreciated her efforts by unveiling her as the celebrity “Voice of Refugees “in South-West Nigeria.

Nikki, often referred to as ‘The small one with a big voice’, started her music career when she was five years with the help of her parents who enrolled her into the adult choir in their local church. She has always been part of various music groups and later joined Soul Sistas, a girls group in her university days, which paved way for her dreams.

 “I have always been a part of music groups and choirs. In my university days, a coincidental meeting along the hallway of my hostel brought about Soul Sistas, comprising of myself, Debola Kester & Aby Tene. We were together for six years and eventually split due to our different career paths”, she explained.

As a gospel artiste, she has passion for God’s work, while her songs show how dedicated she is in the ministry. She came to limelight in 2006, with the hit single, ‘Never Felt This Way Before’ from her debut studio album, ‘Angel 4 Life’ (2008), which featured other notable singles, including the Hip-Hop collaboration with Rooftop Mcs and her brother, Rap2Sai – “Taka Sufe”; the love ballad “Someone to Love” with R&B crooner Jeremiah Gyang, “ No Be Beans”(2011) featuring Base One and “ Only You”, “123”, “ Can’t Hold Me Down” and “ Your Number” in  2013 produced in Nigeria by talented producers such as Cobhams, Xblaze, her brother, among others.

She also comes from a musical lineage of the late Oba Adetoyese Laoye, the Timi of Ede.  Little wonder of her ingenuity. “Music runs in my family and we all have musical and creative genes. Watching my Dad sing, play the guitar and lead his own band inspired me as a child.”

Nikki’s love for people made her establish Angel 4 Life Foundation via which she works on the educational and social development of the blind and physically challenged youths, helping them to believe in themselves and giving them hope for a bright future.  

“My love and care for people inspired the establishment of Angel 4 Life Foundation in 2010. This had been a huge weight on my heart since I was a child, as I have a great desire to help as many people as I can to live a better life. I also have a passion to help challenged persons and with the foundation, we provide support and synthesise the public on how to integrate them into the society.” She also owns a graphics design/media outfit called Scribbles by Nikki Laoye while handling managerial duties at Wahala Media Entertainment, an entertainment and media consultancy firm.

Nikki is married to her soul mate and long time friend. She still manages to run her music career, her foundation and her marriage.

“My foundation, Angel 4 Life Foundation is dedicated to the development, mentoring and rehabilitation of visually impaired and physically challenged youths. Working with them is highly emotional as you have to help them deal with their disabilities and support their integration into the society on a daily basis. It is a demanding job alongside having to juggle my career and marriage but it is all about planning, prayers and more planning. God definitely gives me a lot of wisdom and strength to handle it all.”

Her dedication and focus in her career has accelerated her game in the music industry. It has also earned her various awards, especially the “Best Vocal Performance (Female) in the Headies Award, for her ballad, ‘Only You’.  The song, according to her is dedicated to the memory of her father who died in 2011. She also received the Kora Awards in 2009 for best arrangement and best spiritual Artiste and also received the “Song of the Year” and “Best Praise Song” awards for her dance hit, “123”at the 2013 Nigeria Gospel Music Awards and COPGA Awards respectively.

Growing up was fun and memorable for Nikki as she was surrounded by people who love and care for her esecially being an only girl in the family.  “Growing up with three awesome brothers Femi, Bola, Ade (Xblaze), and the most amazing parents in the world, was a whole lot of fun.”

Nikki was the only female contender alongside top male Nigerian Artistes; M.I, Banky W and Naeto C for the HipHop World Revelation (Best New Artiste) category of the 2009 Hip Hop World Awards.

In 2009, Laoye performed alongside Kirk Franklin, Cece Winans, Donnie Mclurkinto an audience of 500,000 at The Experience Concert in Lagos. Laoye’s music has gained critical acclaim beyond Africa, as she was one of the first three Nigerian artists ever to be interviewed and recognized on American entertainment channel, BET in 2009.

In 2013, she made a comeback into the music scene after a break following the loss of her father in 2011.

She is inspired by her faith, experiences and by observing the world around her. Her music is always centred on three major themes; God, life and love. If Nikki is not in the studio recording her songs or working for the progress of her foundation, she plays video games, watch movies, swim or read books.

As well,  Nikki is inspired by various men of God who have encouraged her over the years especially Paul Adefarasin (House on the Rock); Biodun Fatoyinbo (Commonwealth of Zion Assembly), Tunde Ayeni (Graceville Christian Centre, Abuja), and also the amazing recording artistes such as Kirk Franklin, Brandy, Mary J Blige, Donnie McClurkin, and Jars of Clay.

ABIMBOLA OBATAYO