Lola Rae


Rachel Akosua Funmilola Garton, professionally known as Lola Rae, is a Nigerian-born singer and dancer of Ghanaian and British descent. She gained recognition following the release of her debut single "Watch My Ting Go", which received critical acclaim and thus earned her a nomination for Most Promising Female Act to Watch at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Growing up and education

Born to a British father and a Ghanaian mother in Obalende, a suburb of Lagos, Lola Rae attained her primary and secondary school education at St. Saviours School, Ikoyi and Lekki British International High School, Lagos, respectively. She however left Nigeria for England at the age of 15 to complete her university education at Central Saint Martins, where she studied fashion textiles.

Career

Lola Rae's entertainment career started as a dancer when she was a member of the dance group Mystikal. In 2010, Mystikal auditioned for Britain's Got Talent. Rae sang in the competition and judge Simon Cowell singled Mystikal out at the semi-final of the competition. Upon the end of the competition, Mystikal was signed to Syco for a year. Rae turned down an invitation to The X Factor in order to pursue a solo career as a singer.
On 19 November 2012, Rae released her debut hit single Watch My Ting Go and a follow up single titled High. She was nominated as the "Most Promising Female Act to Watch" at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. The video for Watch My Ting Go premiered on Soundcity TV on 8 January 2013 with cameo appearances from Iyanya and Emma Nyra. The video was nominated at the 10th Channel O Music Video Awards.
Following Watch My Ting Go, Rae featured Iyanya on a song titled Fi Mi Le which earned Rae another nomination at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. She made a cameo appearance as Ice Prince's love interest in the music video for his song "More".

Personal life

In May 2018 Rae gave birth to a daughter named Skye Yaa Amaka Kelechi, whose father is Tekno.

Discography

Singles

;As lead artist
;As featured artist
;Promotional singles

Awards and nominations