Efezino Majiri Akpo, more fondly known as just “Efezino” by her 11,000+ monthly Spotify listeners, is a sensational Afrobeat musician who produces music that perfectly blends Afropop, Soul, and several other genres. She hails from Delta State, Nigeria, and grew up there, specifically in the City of Warri. Her lyrics showcase the African culture and the beauty of love and self-discovery. She is proud of her Isoko heritage, incorporating it into her music whenever she gets the chance.
Efezino had as much talent as she had passion for music, and she had quite a lot of passion for it, developing an interest in it at the age of 8. Born in March 1992, the vocal genius is a singer, songwriter, performer and producer, not just in name only. Her work is well-documented on the internet, proving her versatility in the music and entertainment industry.
Anyone paying attention would have known that Efezino was destined for greatness, winning the “Who Sings Best” Competition at just 17. Who Sings Best is a popular competition in Warri that showcases young singers’ vocal dexterity.
She has recorded demo tracks for international Grammy winners Rihanna and Brandy Norwood, as well as world-renowned soul artist Asa. She has also played the role of backup vocalist for internationally recognized African heavyweights Adekunle Gold and Simi. She has collaborated with famous African musicians The Caveman, Paul Okoye (Rudeboy), Zoro, Falz, and several others.
She has been featured in several commercial jingles, including for Maggi, DSTV, and Delta Soap. She has also participated in several nationally recognized musical reality TV shows, including The Voice Nigeria, where she advanced to the live rounds, and Nigerian Idol, where she finished in the top six.
The 33-year-old artist joined the aforementioned Simi on a United States (US) tour, getting and taking the chance to show her inspiring music to an international audience. This embodiment of talent has her own record label, “Efezino,” but is also with the IDOLI label.
Efezino has released music—beautiful music. Boy, has she released beautiful music. She has a full-length album containing over 14 songs. In addition to that, she has two Extended Plays (EPs) to her name. EPs are a midway point between a Single and a full-length album. Two excellent EPs, Amere (2019) and Memory Box (2024), are worth listening to for their exceptional production, outstanding vocals, and the way they resonate with everyone.
She has also released several singles, including Amere (2018), Totori (2021), and Ulome (2021). Altogether, she has released over 26 songs, and there’s no good reason for you not to have listened to them by now.
Efezino set out not just to entertain her audience, but also to inspire them, and you cannot argue that she hasn’t already achieved that, even while still having many more levels to attain. She is ever-grateful to her parents for supporting her in her journey, having earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Human Anatomy from Delta State University (DELSU) in 2014. It takes intentional and supportive parents to let their daughter pursue a different career after the investment in a University degree.
This piece just covers a snippet of what the Afrobeats musician has done so far, as it’s impossible to capture everything with a music career that has already spanned 16 years. Efezino is about to enter another stage in her journey, and if you were not following her before, you don’t want to miss the chance to keep track of her success from here on out.
Start with listening to her latest song TOXIC, which came Friday, April 11.
