Rising Singer Fola Recounts Harrowing First Day in Lagos: “I Slept at a Police Station”
Afrobeats singer Folarin Odunlami, better known as Fola, has opened up about a challenging start to his journey in Nigeria’s music capital, revealing that he was arrested and spent the night in police custody on his very first day in Lagos.
In a candid interview with The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos, Fola shared how he relocated to Lagos in 2018 to pursue his musical ambitions. The transition, he admitted, was tough, not only adjusting to a fast-paced urban lifestyle but also facing unexpected legal trouble.
“I relocated to Lagos in 2018 to pursue my music career… The very first day I came to Lagos, I was arrested. I slept at the police station… It was so hard at first… I almost gave up,” he reflected, describing the ordeal as demoralizing and nearly career-ending.
Despite this rough beginning, Fola’s resilience paid off. He signed with Bella Shmurda’s Dagbani Republik in October 2024, and his breakthrough single “Alone” has since earned him high-profile collaborations with major Afrobeats stars like Wizkid and Kizz Daniel, signaling a promising rise in the industry.