"I Was Arrested, Slept at Police Station on My First Day in Lagos" – Singer Fola Opens Up

Fast-rising Afrobeats star Folarin Odunlami, popularly known as Fola, has shared a shocking revelation about his first experience in Lagos while chasing his music dreams.

In a recent interview with The Beat 99.9 FM Lagos, the “Alone” crooner disclosed that he was arrested and spent a night in police custody the very day he arrived in the city back in 2018. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Fola’s Tough First Day in Lagos

Recalling the incident, Fola said:

“The very first day I came to Lagos, I was arrested. I slept at the police station. It was a long story. I don’t even like to remember it. I almost gave up.”

He admitted that the ordeal almost crushed his ambition, but instead it shaped him for the reality of Lagos’ hustle.

From Struggles to Stardom

Despite the rocky start, Fola pushed through. In October 2024, he was signed to Bella Shmurda’s Dagbani Republik, a move that further elevated his career.

“I wasn’t born here, so it was hard at first, but I’ve adapted to both the living conditions and the hustle,” he explained.

Since then, Fola has continued to rise steadily in the Afrobeats scene, scoring collaborations with industry heavyweights like Wizkid and Kizz Daniel, and earning recognition as one of the promising new voices in Nigerian music.