Lola Rae

Rachel Akosua Funmilola Garton (born 20 January 1991), professionally known as Lola Rae, is a Nigerian-born singer and dancer of Ghanaian and British descent. She gained recognition following the release of her debut single "Watch My Ting Go",[1] which received critical acclaim and thus earned her a nomination for Most Promising Female Act to Watch at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[2]

Lola Rae
Birth nameRachel Akosua Funmilola Garton
Born (1991-01-20) 20 January 1991
Obalende, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)singer-songwriter, dancer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2010–present
Associated acts

Growing up and education

Born to a British father and a Ghanaian mother in Obalende, a suburb of Lagos, Lola Rae attained her primary and secondary school education at St. Saviours School, Ikoyi and Lekki British International High School, Lagos, respectively.[3] She however left Nigeria for England at the age of 15 to complete her university education at Central Saint Martins, where she studied fashion textiles.[4]

Career

Lola Rae's entertainment career started as a dancer when she was a member of the dance group Mystikal. In 2010, Mystikal auditioned for Britain's Got Talent.[5] Rae sang in the competition and judge Simon Cowell singled Mystikal out at the semi-final of the competition. Upon the end of the competition, Mystikal was signed to Syco for a year. Rae turned down an invitation to The X Factor in order to pursue a solo career as a singer.[6][7]

On 19 November 2012, Rae released her debut hit single Watch My Ting Go and a follow up single titled High.[8][9] She was nominated as the "Most Promising Female Act to Watch" at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. The video for Watch My Ting Go premiered on Soundcity TV on 8 January 2013 with cameo appearances from Iyanya and Emma Nyra.[10] The video was nominated at the 10th Channel O Music Video Awards.[11]

Following Watch My Ting Go, Rae featured Iyanya on a song titled Fi Mi Le which earned Rae another nomination at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[12][13] She made a cameo appearance as Ice Prince's love interest in the music video for his song "More".[14]

Personal life

In May 2018 Rae gave birth to a daughter named Skye Yaa Amaka Kelechi,[15] whose father is Tekno (musician).[16]

Discography

Singles

As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NGA GHA RSA AUS UK US US
R&B/HH
"Watch My Ting Go" 2012 Non-album singles
"High"
(featuring Bridge)
"Fi Mi Le"
(featuring Iyanya)
2013
"She Knows He Knows"
"You Know What My Name Is" 2015
"One Time" 2016
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NGA GHA RSA AUS UK US US
R&B/HH
"Ginger"[17]
(BOJ featuring Lola Rae)
2013 Non-album singles
"Coupe Bibamba (Remix)"
(Awilo Longomba featuring Lola Rae)
"Egwu"
(Nizzy featuring Lola Rae)
2014
"Work"
(TeeJay featuring Lola Rae)
"Pele Mo"
(Danagog featuring Lola Rae)
2015
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Promotional singles
List of promotional singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NGA GHA RSA AUS UK US US
R&B/HH
"Africa Rising"[18]
(Davido, Tiwa Savage, Lola Rae, Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz and Mi Casa)
2014 Non-album singles
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Year Award ceremony Prize Work/Recipient Result Ref
2013 2013 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards Most Gifted Newcomer "Watch My Ting Go" Nominated [19]
2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Most Promising Female Act to Watch Herself Nominated [20]
2014 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Diaspora Artist of The Year Nominated [21]

References

  1. "Nigeria's Lola Rae singer emerges on UK TV talent show". The BBC. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  2. O., Ovie (6 December 2012). "Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2013 View Full Nominees List". notJustOk. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  3. Wesley-Metigboun, Shade (30 January 2015). "'I have always wanted to do music' -Lola Rae". Ecomium Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  4. "Deeva of the Week – Lola Rae". NaijaDeevas. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  5. Nwokolo, Arinze. "Everyone's talking about …..Lola Rae". Zen Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  6. Sokoya, Seyi (18 August 2013). ""I want to be the female Wizkid" – Lola Rae". The Herald News. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  7. "Introducing Afrobeat superstar Lola Rae". MOBO. 9 June 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  8. "LOLA RAE ALL SET TO STIR UP AFRICAN MUSIC". The Good Life. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  9. Aina, Iyabo (29 January 2015). "I love the crazy way Iyanya twists his waist – Lola Rae". Vanguard News. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  10. Ayo Jaguda (8 January 2013). "New Video: Lola Rae – Watch My Ting Go". Jaguda. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  11. "2013 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards". Channel O. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  12. "Genevieve Nnaji, Don Jazzy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tiwa Savage, Bovi, Davido – Nigeria Entertainment Awards Nominees List". BellaNaija. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  13. Tyler (9 July 2013). "Lola Rae – Fimile Ft. Iyanya". tooXclusive. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  14. Tayo, Ayomide O. (20 February 2015). "Lola Rae: Singer says she never dated Ice Prince". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  15. "Lola Rae wishes daughter a happy birthday". 24 May 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  16. "Tekno, prety girlfriend, Lola Rae blessed with baby girl". 27 May 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  17. Demola OG (13 April 2013). "BOJ – Ginger ft. Lola Rae (Prod by StudioMagic)". notJustOk. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  18. Ovie O. (25 June 2014). "VIDEO: Davido, Tiwa Savage, Lola Rae, Sarkodie, Diamond, Mi Casa – Africa Rising". notJustOk. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  19. "UK Afrobeat rising star Lola Rae nominated for Channel O Music Awards". Nigerian Watch. 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  20. "And The Nominees Are…". Jaguda. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  21. "Full list of winners for the NEA Awards 2014". The Nigerian Eye. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
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