Read the biography of Teni ‘Makanaki’, one of Nigeria’s finest female musicians.
Teni is a top Nigerian female artiste. She came into the limelight after her song “Case” went viral.
Since then, she has released other chart-topping songs such as “Uyo Meyo”, “For You,” and many others.
Along with that, she is also the younger sister to well-known Nigerian singer, Niniola.
The siblings have dominated the Nigerian industry with hit tracks and albums that have further elevated their father’s name.
In this article, you will be reading thorough information about Teni’s biography. Information about her life, education, marriage, net worth, and other details would be exposed. Keep reading!
Profile Rundown
- Full Name: Teniola Apata
- Date Of Birth: December 23, 1993.
- Age: 32 Years
- State Of Origin: Ekiti State.
- Nationality: Nigerian.
- Status: Single.
- Occupation Artiste.
- Net Worth: $1 million.
Teni’s Early Life
Teniola Apata, popularly known as Teni, was born on the 23rd of December, 1993. This makes her 32 years old as of 2025. Her elder sister, whose name is Niniola Apata, is also a Nigerian musician.
Her father died while she was young. As a result, she and her sister were raised mainly by their mother.
Growing up, she and her sister became attached to music. At first, she didn’t show interest, but the constant attention by her sister to music then drove her to do the same.
Now, Teni and Niniola both dominate the Nigerian and African music scenes with their songs and albums.
Teni Education
She completed her basic education at the Apata Memorial High School. She then furthered her education at the University of Georgia.
However, she obtained her degree in business administration from the American InterContinental University.
Her parents were invested in her education. They valued education, so her father was moved to create a school named the Apata Memorial High School.
This school became a school for hundreds of students, including Teni and her sister. Little wonder that she and her sister are so knowledgeable, which can be heard in their songs.
Teni Career
She began her career in music as a freestyle artiste in 2017. She was known to remake the songs of other artistes into her version and make it sound good.
Gradually, this got her attention, and she was interviewed at several media houses. However, that was not enough for her to become a mainstream artiste.
Later that year, she released her single titled “Fargin” with Dr. Dolor Entertainment. That song announced her arrival in the Nigerian mainstream industry.
It put her in the eyes of the Nigerian audience as one of the fast-rising female artistes to watch out for.
In 2018, her stance in the Nigerian music scene became even more serious. She released her hit track titled “Case”.
The song, which name-dropped personalities like MC Oluomo and Dangote, became an anthem around the country and beyond.
In the same year, she released another hit track titled “Uyo Meyo”. In the song, she made use of her dialect to sing a song that reminded her of her background.
According to her, the song remains special for her because it contains messages on her life and family.
The song has gone ahead to show her versatility in the Nigerian music space and ability to fuse different languages in her songs.
Following that song, she was recognized by several organizations for the impact of her music on society. In 2019, she released her E.P. titled “Billionaire E.P.”
The E.P. was a solo project featuring only her vocals and nobody else. With this project, she wanted to introduce her sound and the different kinds of music she can perform with her sound.
In 2020, she collaborated with DJ Neptune to release a joint project titled “Quarantine Playlist”. The playlist featured songs created by Teni to entertain Nigerians during the lockdown period.
The songs featured messages about how the lockdown due to COVID-19 made her feel, among other subjects. Producers who worked on this project included Tempoe, P.Prime, and Dera. She also released “Shake Am” that same year.
However, the impact of this song compared to her other songs was not so pronounced.
The following year, she was responsible for another anthem that rocked the streets. She recorded and released her song titled “For You,” where she featured Davido.
Immediately after the release of the song, the song was played on radio and TV stations across the country. According to her, she had looked hard for the Davido feature. When she got it, it was worth it indeed.
The song further catapulted her into global stardom as it debuted on international charts across the world. In Nigeria, it peaked at high positions in all charts it featured in.
Fast-forward to 2025, she has established her name as one of the top female artistes of the Nigerian music scene. She is responsible for the release of “Money,” which has burst the airwaves in Nigeria.
The song, which talks about the fantasy of having money, has gone viral on all social media platforms. All of this points to the hard work done by Teni in the Nigerian music scene and her impact on the industry.
How old is Teni?
Teni is 32 years old as of 2025. She was born in the year 1992.
Teni sister
Her sister’s name is Niniola Apata. Niniola Apata is also a Nigerian musician who is known for several hits, notable among them is her “Maradona” single.
What country is Teni from?
Teni is from Ekiti State, Nigeria. She hails from the southwestern part of Nigeria.
Teni’s weight loss
Teni experienced weight loss in 2023. She revealed that her weight loss was not as a result of going under the knife. She said that she couldn’t do that out of fear.
However, she adopted a strict diet instead of going under the knife. This action involved her managers who were also instructed not to offer her carbs to eat.
Who is Teni’s husband?
Teni is currently unmarried. She has decided to keep details about her relationship status private.
Teni Net Worth
Teni is estimated to he worth around $1 million. She makes most of her income from streaming platforms, show performance, and other business endeavors.
The Summary
To conclude, Teni is one of the top female artists in Nigeria. She has worked with several big names like Wizkid, Davido, and Skibii. In the years to come, she’ll work with more international stars.
Chimezie Duru is a Lagos-based Digital Entrepreneur, Wikipedia Editor & Biography Writer, Affiliate Marketing Strategist, IT Consultant, and Blogging Coach with over 6 years of experience building and monetizing blogs in Nigeria’s digital space. He is the founder of InkRise Academy (InkRise Digital Concepts) and creator of the Ink To Income Masterclass. A 9-module blogging course for aspiring Nigerian & African writers and bloggers covering SEO, content strategy, and monetisation.
As the creator of AffiliatePlog.com, Chimezie writes from real experience on Wikipedia editing & biography writing, affiliate marketing, online earnings, and digital tools for Nigerian freelancers and content creators. He also works as a freelance Business and Data Analyst, IT Consultant & System Administrator, bringing an analytical edge to every content and business decision.
