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Naira Marley

Naira Marley is a Nigerian-British singer and rapper whose Lagos roots and Peckham upbringing meet in street-pop, Afrobeats and afrobashment.

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Naira’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.

Known for

Overview

Name: Azeez Fashola
Roots: Lagos, Nigeria; raised in Peckham, South London
Work: Singer, rapper and founder of Marlian Records
Early release: “Marry Juana,” 2014
Breakout: “Issa Goal,” featuring Olamide and Lil Kesh, released in 2017
Fans: Marlians

Mini bio

How it started.

Azeez Fashola grew up between Lagos and Peckham, moving to South London at 11. Music was not the original plan. In interviews with Mixmag and YFM, Naira Marley recalled paying for friends’ studio time and ending up recording too. “Marry Juana,” released in 2014, became an early calling card in the UK.

Issa Goal.

The Olamide and Lil Kesh collaboration arrived in December 2017 and became closely associated with Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup campaign. Its Bandcamp release notes trace the recording to a UK hotel session with Olamide and Studio Magic, followed by Lil Kesh’s verse.

Building a catalogue.

“Soapy” brought a Viewers’ Choice win at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards. Naira Marley also founded Marlian Records in December 2019. The 2021 Busiswa collaboration “Coming” led into the 2022 album God’s Timing’s the Best, which brought together guests including Zinoleesky, Mayorkun, Jada Kingdom and MHD.

Creditschronological, newest first

2026JaiyeCo-artist with Rexxie
2025DamageCo-artist with 255 and Zinoleesky
2022God’s Timing’s the BestAlbum artist
2021ComingCo-artist with Busiswa
2019SoapyRecording artist; produced by Rexxie
2017Issa GoalLead artist with Olamide and Lil Kesh

Awards

Soundcity MVP Awards 2020Won Viewers’ Choice for “Soapy.”

Quotes

I didn’t stop, I kept going.Naira Marley, The NATIVE

Reflecting on the work behind successive breakthroughs in the “Inside Life” interview: https://thenativemag.com/cover-story/nairamarley/

Trivia

Friends call Naira Marley “Nai,” according to The NATIVE’s cover interview.
The stage name pairs Nigeria’s currency with a tribute to Bob Marley, according to The Guardian Nigeria.
In Apple Music’s album interview, Naira Marley said “Coming” was recorded in one take while working with Rexxie in the kitchen.
“Issa Goal” was originally intended for 2018, but its Bandcamp release notes say a leak brought the release forward to December 2017.