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Rising Nigerian singer-songwriter God’sfavour Ugochinyere Chidozie, known professionally as FAVE, was destined for music. Her journey began in the bustling cosmopolitan city of Lagos, where she lived until the age of eight before her family moved to quiet Akwa-Ibom State in 2008. Raised in a strict, close-knit Christian household, FAVE was immersed in Gospel music from an early age.Soul-stirring Naija artists like Frank Edwards, Sinach, Samsong, and Nathaniel Bassey, alongside international Gospel icons Bebe and CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, and Donnie McClurkin, shaped the soundtrack of her formative years. At just six years old, she joined the church choir—a family tradition involving rigorous daily practice sessions with her parents and two brothers. "You have to be able to live and breathe these songs because you are a vessel being used to communicate something," she explains.
Though "God’sfavour" is a common name in her homeland, FAVE's extraordinary talents set her apart. Her gift for writing emerged in primary school when she began crafting poems and lyrics. FAVE's musical world expanded dramatically when she heard her first secular song, "Am Calling (Ma Bebe)" by Nigerian rapper Sky B, which introduced her to new possibilities.
Armed with an Android phone at twelve, the blossoming young artist discovered a broader musical landscape, devouring albums from artists like Adele, Sia, Aaliyah, and Jamaican dancehall stars Sean Paul and Shaggy. "Dancehall, especially, is one of my favorite genres of music," FAVE notes. "It gave me the confidence to express myself in different ways and pronounce words how I want."
Despite her growing passion for music, FAVE was equally determined to excel academically to please her parents. She maintained top grades and kept her musical ambitions hidden. After graduating from secondary school in 2016, she enrolled at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife, 400 miles away, to study law.
At university, she quickly connected with fellow musicians, recording "M.O.M.M.S.," a track that received enthusiastic feedback and solidified her resolve to pursue music. "I was just happy to have people outside of my family know that I could sing," she says. Encouraged by this support, FAVE began posting freestyle video snippets on Twitter.
In early 2020, she financed and released her follow-up single, “N.B.U.," which went viral, growing her follower count from 1,000 to 10,000 in just 24 hours. With the onset of the lockdown, she returned to Lagos, the heart of the Nigerian music industry, and made her mark with the 2021 release "Beautifully."
FAVE launched her label, Tumblar Records, with a small team of friends and produced her debut EP, Riddim 5 released via emPawa in 2022. Fueled by infectious singles like “Baby Riddim,” “Mr Man,” and fan favorite “Obsessed,” the project topped Apple Music Nigeria and propelled her to fame across the continent.
In the same year, FAVE received numerous accolades, including recognition as one of BET x Nissan Afrobeats Up Next stars, Spotify’s Equal Africa Ambassador, Apple Music’s ‘One To Watch,’ and one of Audiomack’s ‘African Artists to Watch Out For’. She also snagged the coveted ‘Rookie of the Year’ award at the Headies, a prestigious Nigerian music award show that celebrates outstanding achievements in the industry.
FAVE has also collaborated with several prominent artists, contributing to Olamide’s hits “Want” and “Pon Pon,” as well as Simi’s “Loyal.” Her biggest feature to date is on Nigerian superstar Davido’s recent album Timeless, where she penned and performed on the song “Kante. This single was also a Top 10 most-streamed song in Nigeria on Spotify in 2023. In 2024, she joined forces with Nigerian rap icon Phyno for his sizzling track “Deep” featured on his fifth studio album Full Time Job.
Now signed to Bad Habit/Atlantic Records, FAVE is edging closer to the international stardom she dreamed of as a little girl. Her new EP, Dutty Love explores the many dimensions of love—its highs, lows, friendships, and romance. The project chronicles an unapologetic FAVE navigating through the ebbs and flows of life, reclaiming her independence in the process. Collaborating with producers from Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda, FAVE delivers an impressive collection of songs about complex love.
The lead single, “Belong to You,” produced by Axon from Uganda, is an R&B drill track depicting a tumultuous love connection. The second single, “Controlla,” produced by Saszy from Nigeria and co-produced by Niphkeys, explores themes of control and manipulation in relationships. The defiant third single "No Games," is an empowerment anthem about her unwillingness to compromise for a non-committal lover.
"I know how hard it is to pull yourself out of a love situation that doesn’t work anymore,” FAVE says. “I hope people relate to the stories in these songs. I hope it's a wake-up call to know when to let go. And when you reach that point, put on this EP.”
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Lodge at Deaf Institute, The Lodge at Deaf Institute, Manchester, EN, United Kingdom
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