Nigerian singer FOLA has featured spoken words by renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on his sophomore album, 9, while also paying tribute to music legend 2Baba, whose work continues to inspire younger creatives.
The 14-track album, released on October 9, features collaborations with Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Darkoo, Bella Shmurda and Zlatan as FOLA continues to establish his place in the Afrobeats scene.
FOLA expressed his appreciation to Adichie and Nigerian music icon 2Baba Idibia in a post on X, acknowledging their contributions to his second album.
“Today, I’m beyond grateful to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the legendary 2Baba for their contribution to the arts, their blessings on my sophomore, and for leaving my generation multiple standards to aspire to,” he wrote.
On the album’s second track, “How Many,” FOLA samples a portion of Adichie’s Harvard speech, in which she reflects on the relationship between fear, self-doubt and creativity.
“Procrastinating is a form of fear, and it is difficult to acknowledge fear. But the truth is that you cannot create anything of value without both self-doubt and self-belief”.
FOLA also samples 2Baba’s popular song “If Love Is a Crime” on “Crime,” the album’s 11th track, paying homage to the Nigerian music icon’s enduring influence.
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Taking to X, FOLA expressed gratitude to both figures for their contributions to the arts and for inspiring younger creatives.
”9” follows FOLA’s 2025 debut album, “Catharsis” and marks another step in the singer’s growth as he builds a distinctive voice within contemporary Afrobeats.
