Lady Donli (NG)

Lady Donli is a Nigerian artist, cultural curator, and archivist whose work blends Afrobeat, soul, funk, rock, and alternative African music traditions into a sound that is fearless, fluid, and distinctly her own. Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Abuja, Nigeria, she emerged as one of the defining voices of Africa’s alté movement, known for pushing boundaries both sonically and culturally.
Her 2019 debut album, "Enjoy Your Life", introduced a vibrant and deeply personal sound rooted in freedom, joy, and cultural identity. The project received critical acclaim for its originality and positioned Lady Donli as one of the most exciting new voices in African music. In 2023, she returned with "Pan African Rockstar", a bold and expansive project that fused West African influences with psychedelic funk, rock, and experimental sounds, further cementing her reputation as an artist unafraid to evolve. Beyond music, Lady Donli’s work focuses heavily on community building, cultural preservation, and creating opportunities for women within the creative industry. She is the founder of Yar’Uwa Nights, a women-led music community dedicated to supporting women across the music ecosystem, particularly in behind-the-scenes roles such as sound engineering, live production, and technical training. Through workshops, conversations, and collaborative initiatives, the platform continues to empower and connect a new generation of women in music. Her practice also extends into archiving and preserving African music culture through storytelling, research, and curation, reflecting her commitment to documenting and celebrating the richness of African musical history. With praise from The Fader, OkayAfrica, and Complex, Lady Donli continues to shape a new era of African music that is expansive, rebellious, culturally grounded, and unmistakably original.