“Enjoy Your Life” — A Guide by Lady Donli
Tags: Alte, Music, Album Review, Soul

Much like her sound, Zainab Donli is a fusion of many cultures. The influence of her early life in Kaduna and Abuja before transitioning to Lagos and then Canada, is evident in her sound which, while diverse, is true to what one might describe as “Nigerian soul” music. Her road to stardom has been long but ultimately rewarding; from an “alté” artist with two mix-tapes released to being picked as one of the many artists for the Empawa Africa program.

Lady Donli has retained a distinct musical personality that sets her apart from the crowd, while remaining true to her style. After the release of CASH , her first single of the year (2019), she began teasing the release of her debut album , ENJOY YOUR LIFE. Donli fans (now dubbed Ladybugs by the President herself) waited with bated breath for the release date, which came shortly after the release of her second single SUFFER SUFFER. On the 9th of August, Lady Donli birthed her debut album into the world.

ENJOY YOUR LIFE sounds exactly as the name implies. The album embodies what Lady Donli is — fun, feminine , soulful & Nigerian t- and is sprinkled with samples of Nigerian classics.

Donli welcomes us into her world with ZAMAN LAFIYA, which is reminiscent of the distinctive call-and-response singing style of the Zumunta Mata (a collective name for female choirs across apostolic churches in Northern Nigeria). The call “mene ne mu ke so” (what do we want?) is responded by “mu na son zaman lafiya” (which loosely translates to “we want to feel alright) and this sets the tone for the beautiful chop-life-centric body of work. Up next, Donli seemingly juxtaposes the titles CASH & SUFFER SUFFER, but the songs carry a single message - “I’m addicted to cash” because “I didn’t come here to suffer”. Iconic. SUFFER SUFFER is, interestingly, a Fela-inspired ode to Mama G’s hit song “National Moi Moi”. TAKE ME HOME ft. BenjiFlow samples the hit song, “Gbono Feli Feli” by Dbanj. Donli craves a mental connection on this “sapiosexual” anthem, asking who’s going to take her home not sexually, but intellectually. The Cavemen provide a beautiful background melody to Donli’s sweet crooning and BenjiFlow, a hook that fits the song like a glove.

On BOOMERANG, which is faster-paced than previous tracks, but no less elegantly handled, Donli promises an ex-lover who “treated her like a fool” that she won’t be coming back. Tomi Thomas joins Donli on WITH THE KINDNESS is a promise ring to changing the world with sheer goodwill, irrespective of naysayers. Donli crowns herself queen and vows that “sleepless nights shall never be in vain” on AROUND, which is produced by Tay Iwar. Although she shouts out to the capital on this track, the melody sounds more southern, with what could pass for an Igbo ogene as part of the instrumentals.

My favorite element of this entire project is Donli’s commitment to collaborating with female artists. TEMS lends her magical drawl to the chorus of GOOD TIME, even as Donli surprises us with her rap skills, resulting in a musical chemistry that is nothing sort of amazing. The twins, VanJess come in on CORNER, a timeless tune that would have fit as well in the 70's or 90's as it does in 2019. This, combined with the masterful musical ministrations of The Cavemen, results in a catchy tune that is magnetic, even in its simplicity. FLAVA is an empowering song about black women and the flavor in their essence. Donli, SOMADINA & Amaarae are a fusion of sugar, spice and everything nice on this track. Amaarae touches on the last verse with her signature feather-light voice, which sounds like honey and love-making all at once. CONFIDENT/FEELING COOL takes us back to Donli’s Northern roots in style and language, with a surprise beat switch that the breathtaking SOLIS serenade on its tail.

As she rounds off her masterpiece with BITE THE DUST, Donli assures us that this is only the beginning. Her speaking voice is as spellbinding as her singing, as she recounts her childhood dreams of being a star, just as the album comes to an end.

There is something to be said as to how she brilliantly fused several cultural influences into this body of work, while still retaining its “Nigerianness”. Mixed by GMK, ENJOY YOUR LIFE blurs the lines between music and art and will, dare I say, stand the test of our time. All hail Zainab Donli, G.C.F.R Federal Republic Of Enjoyment and Jollification.

Edited By: Gloria Akor