Naira Marley

Naira Marley is Azeez Adeshina Fashola, a Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter born on 10 May 1991 in Lagos State. He moved to Peckham in south London at 11, where he studied business and started rapping in 2013. The name is a nod to Bob Marley, and so are the dreadlocks.

His early UK releases included the Gotta Dance EP. “Issa Goal”, with Olamide and Lil Kesh, became the Super Eagles’ anthem for the 2018 World Cup. In 2019 he was arrested by the EFCC days after releasing “Am I A Yahoo Boy”, and “Soapy”, which he put out after his release, won Viewers’ Choice at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards. His fans call themselves Marlians.

The Lord of Lamba EP arrived in December 2019. At Marlian Fest that month he launched Marlian Records, whose roster came to include Zinoleesky, CBlvck and Mohbad. He sings in English, Pidgin and Yoruba over Afrobeats and street-pop. His album God’s Timing’s the Best came out in 2022.