ABOUT
Ara
firsT FEMALE TALKING DRUMMER
Aralola Olamuyiwa, born on January 23, 1975, and widely recognized by her stage name Ara, is a renowned female singer, entertainer, talking drummer, and the cultural ambassador of the Ooni of Ife.
As the leading female drummer in Africa, Ara has earned critical acclaim both locally and internationally. Her performances have taken her across the globe, where she has shared stages with legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder. With a career spanning four decades, Ara has truly embodied the essence of her stage name. Born in Lagos State and hailing from Ondo State, she spent much of her childhood in Warri, Delta State, where she attended Nana Primary School, Our Ladies High School, and Folashaye Girls Grammar School. She briefly studied law at the University of Ilorin before transferring to Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, Edo State, where she pursued a degree in English Language.
Ara was born into a family with a deep appreciation for music and excellence. Her musical journey began at a young age, and she wrote her first song before she turned 10. She started playing the drums at the tender age of five and quickly moved from performing at family and corporate events to becoming the head drummer in her school. She represented her school in numerous singing and choral competitions, winning multiple awards along the way. Ara has often credited her love for music to her father’s influence and fondly recalls playing the drums during her secondary school days.
She first gained widespread recognition in 2000 with the release of her debut video, “Which One You Dey,” recorded at Ebenezer Studio between 1998 and 1999. Over the years, Ara has performed for distinguished figures such as the Queen of England, Bill Clinton, Olusegun Obasanjo, the Black Mayors Caucus in America, Evander Holyfield, Wesley Snipes, and Broadway executives. Recently, she collaborated with 2face Idibia to remake Ebenezer Obey’s classic “Olomi.” Ara is also a recipient of the Nigeria Book of Records award.