Teni undoubtedly stirred the pot in different ways when she shared her breakout hit, Fargin, way back in 2017. Not only did she deliver Afropop in a silky manner that was a unicorn before she delivered, but she also challenged the perception that women superstars have to be objectifiable before they can succeed, much like Weird MC did way back in 2006. She has bided her time since Fargin, testing waters and gaining ground with several hit singles, features and live performances that will speak for her no matter what today but as is the norm, she proves longevity is also a feature she possesses on her debut album, Wondaland.
Teni is many things and through her single run, we’ve witnessed her many facets but on Wondaland, they all culminate to prove her worthiness of the title ‘The Entertainer’. The album is a hub of entertainment that finds Teni right at its center commandeering vast narratives wielding diverse sounds, honed from a strong passion and knowledge of what works. The opener, Maja follows the traditional path Uyo Meyo did, it’s a story of her life accompanied by an Oriki; praise poetry assigned to every Yoruba born child, and a manifesto detailing her epigraph and epilogue. Right after that, she immediately switches moods and tempo on the Davido-assisted For You, the only pre-released track on the album and the only one with a feature.
Backed by the range of producers she works with, Teni explores every sound and every story, a move that gives the album its distracting but enticing feature. Afropop makes the cut, Trap does too and even House and Highlife, she dabbles into everything, truly living up to her commander-in-chief of the wonderland role.
Wondaland is a crowded but cohesive debut album as it banks on Teni’s boldness and expansiveness to deliver fascinating sonic stories that speak to the range of her imagination and creativity.