Zainab Elizabeth Donli, known professionally as Lady Donli, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter associated with Alté music. Her music incorporates elements of alternative R&B, hip hop, jazz, and Afrobeats.
Biography Donli was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and is the youngest of six children. She spent her early years in Abuja and Kaduna, where her father 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. Donli's earliest musical influence came from the Evangelical Church of West Africa and its style of synchronous praise-chanting. She was also influenced by the music of Brenda Fassie, Angelique Kidjo, Aṣa, and Erykah Badu, as well as Nigeria's pop musicians.
Donli is associated with Nigeria's Alté music, a fusion genre that combines elements of several genres, including Afrobeat, R&B, and soul. She released her debut 12-track mixtape, Love or War, in 2014. Donli has worked with artists such as Adekunle Gold, Nonso Amadi, Tomi Thomas, M.I Abaga, Mr Eazi, SDC, Davido, Ayüü, Odunsi the Engine, and Tay Iwar, among others.
In 2018, Donli provided vocals for Boogey's "Motion" and Terry Tha Rapman's "Open Letter". That same year, she collaborated with Mr Eazi on "Lagos Gyration", which appeared on his second mixtape Lagos to London (2018). She was also featured on "+-" from M.I Abaga's fourth studio album A Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl.
In 2019, Donli released her debut album, Enjoy Your Life.
Discography
Studio albums Enjoy Your Life (2019) Pan African Rockstar (2023)
EPs Love or War (2014) Wallflower (2016) Letters to Her (2018) Wild (2021)
Selected singles Year Title rowspan="11" 2014"Mr Creeper"2016"Kashe Ni"2016"Ice Cream" (featuring Tomi Thomas)2017"Poison"2018"Games"2018"Classic"2018"Comforter"2018"Work" (featuring Tomi Thomas and The Forbidden)2019"Cash" (Remix) (featuring Davido)2020"Wonda Wonda" (featuring Darkovibes)2022"Thunderstorm in Surulere" (featuring The Lagos Panic)
Major features Artist TrackAlbumYearTerry Tha Rapman"Open Letter"The Life of Joe Spazm2018Boogey"Motions"Nouveau Niveau2018M.I Abaga"+-"A Study on Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl2018Show Dem Camp"For A Minute"Palmwine Music 22018Mr Eazi"Lagos Gyration"Life is Eazi Vol 2: Lagos to London2018DRB LasGidi"Ma Pariwo"Pioneers2020
Awards and nominations YearEventPrizeRecipientResultRef2021The Headies Best Alternative Song"Corner"2020The Future Awards AfricaMusic (Endowed by Infinix)Herself2019The Headies Best Alternative Song"Cash"2018 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest New Act of the YearHerself Nigerian Teens Choice AwardsChoice Female ArtistHerself2015Choice Mixtape/EPLove or WarChoice Female ArtistHerself
References