Dear Teni,

Shout out to you. I am so sure you are having a balling career ride. Music is some sweet rewarder of efforts once the artiste has conquered the setbacks and gained acceptance (otherwise ask Alariwo).

The people have accepted you. In another five years, you will be the richest black female musician. It’s an easy prophecy. The other day Akon told us what we already know. That Wizkid and Davido are richer than a lot of American rappers.

We know.

I know you are climbing that ladder of greatest fast. With lots of hard work and food. Yes, food. You are such a foodie. So much food is making you look like Biggie Smalls (Christopher Wallace – The Notorious B.I.G).

I am not body shaming you. The last journalist that body shamed you got the attack of his life. The world stood against him. And heaven joined. Since then Alonge of Pulse.NG has known better than throw such derogatory words your way.

So I am not saying you are too fat. I can’t whisper it. What I am saying loud at the top of my voice is how damn talented and acceptable you are. Highly likable, you do no wrong. Sorry, you do almost no wrong.

I had to edit that because you are guilty of a thing. On your numerous videos, which you make quite often on Instagram, you have mastered the art of having an offensive dramatic joke. Wherein you interact with a white dude in English language and at the same time find a way to insult such individual with your Yoruba dialect.

Not cool. Although the first time you did it, it was funny. Subsequently, it wasn’t anything near humor. Rather it has been distasteful. But I think you have been warned. And I see you have taken to such admonition.

Teniola Apata aka Teni Makanaki, you have had to adopt some deliberate branding. You have blended your tomboyism with some bandana ish. I guess you went for comfort.

Your elder sister, Niniola on the other hand, is Maradonally comfortable in sexy stuff. So we get it. You are you. And you are doing you. It is such knack for personal adjustments that saw you pull out of your Pharmacy study in the US to graduating from the America Intercontinental Univeristy with a degree in Business Admin plus a minor in Information Technology.

But I guess you prefer these endorsements than the certs:

— Rookie of the Year (2018 Headies Awards),

— Most Promising Act to Watch (2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards),

— Best New Artist (2018 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival),

— Number 8 of Top 10 Hottest Artistes in Nigeria (NotJustOk),

— Top 6 Nigerian Breakout stars & viral sensations (2018 Premium Times), and

— YouTube Music’s Trending Artiste on the Rise (Feb 2019).

See you? See what music has done for you? And this is just the beginning. From that your first ‘Fargin’ viral hit song to you writing Davido’s ‘Like Dat’ song. And now too much success has made you double in size.

It’s even possible you got blown up because of the joy of doing what you love to do. I remember I was always also very slim until I started living my dreams. Music is your dream. And you are living it.

Some people are yet to discover their dreams. If only they are careful to take cognizance of the things they do so well naturally. If only they take note of those things they effortlessly do or did at a tender age that took them to some form of prominence.

I at a tender age was already good with the arts. I heard you started music at age 2. I read somewhere that in high school, you played drums for former governors of Lagos State including Mohammed Buba Marwa, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, when they were in office.

I dedicate this letter to your dad — the late Brigadier-General S.O. Apata, founder of the Apata Memorial School — I heard he also loved music so much (who doesn’t love music?). I heard he always said, his kids would be superstars.

Your Yokozuna Size spotter,
Ediale