How Did Terry Apala Get Into Apala Music? The Singer Takes Us Through His Journey

Terry Apala’s Journey: Bringing Traditional Apala Music Into the Modern Afrobeats Era

In a music landscape dominated by Afrobeats and Amapiano, Terry Apala has carved out a unique lane by reimagining one of Nigeria’s most traditional sounds for contemporary audiences. The artist’s signature “Apala fusion” style—a bold blend of ancestral Apala music with hip-hop and modern Afrobeats production—has earned him collaborations with major artists like Ayra Starr while connecting with a new generation of listeners who initially didn’t know what to make of his sound.

Growing up as an Isoko native in the heart of Mushin, Lagos, Terry was surrounded by Yoruba culture and music. That cultural immersion became the foundation for his artistic identity. After years of trying his hand at rap and R&B with little traction, everything changed when he embraced Apala fusion. His 2016 breakthrough single “Champagne Showers” introduced the industry to this refreshed take on traditional Apala, though he admits the sound was initially too deep for Gen Z audiences to fully embrace. Today, things are different. His recent collaboration on Ayra Starr’s album and his new single “Apaladisskizzy” featuring Mavo signal a turning point—younger fans are finally discovering both his music and his actual age, after many assumed he was a septuagenarian based solely on his traditional sound.

The artist’s creative process is deeply intentional. He maintains a careful balance of 40% Yoruba, 40% pidgin, and 20% English in his lyrics, ensuring the Apala essence remains present while making the music accessible. Drawing inspiration from legends like Pa Haruna Ishola, Sir Musiliu Ishola, and Yusuf Olatunji, Terry emphasizes that even those pioneers incorporated English and pidgin into their work—it’s the vocal tone and rhythm that defines true Apala. His foundation as a church drummer and guitarist continues to influence how he approaches rhythm and percussion, while his two-year hiatus due to depression taught him the value of resilience. With gratitude to DJ Tunez, Don Jazzy, the Mavin team, and his own support system, Terry Apala is proving that traditional African sounds can not only survive but thrive in the modern music industry.

For young artists looking to build careers around traditional sounds, his advice is simple: stay true to the roots, but don’t fear evolution. Study the history, respect the pioneers, and then inject your own personality into the music. As Terry’s journey demonstrates, patience and authenticity can turn cultural preservation into something genuinely fresh and relevant for today’s audiences.

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