Why I grew up believing my sister Niniola was jealous of me – Teni
Teni has finally shared insights into her relationship with her sister Niniola and why she initially thought Niniola was envious of her.
In a recent episode of the Tea With Tay podcast, Teni Apata recounted a touching story about her bond with her sister, Niniola.
Initially, a misunderstanding arose between them, mainly centered around Teni’s singing voice. However, as they embarked on a joint musical journey, their connection deepened, and they evolved into each other’s greatest supporters.
During their formative years, Teni and her sisters frequently held rehearsals together. While their elder sister, Doyin, commended Teni’s melodious voice, Niniola had a different perspective. She believed that Teni’s voice lacked a certain sweetness.
This difference in viewpoints initially led Teni to believe that Niniola harbored jealousy towards her talent. However, one day, Niniola approached Teni for a sincere conversation. She advised Teni not to be swayed by Doyin’s praise and pointed out that Teni sang from her core.
Intrigued by Niniola’s guidance, Teni began observing her sister’s singing techniques and started incorporating them into her performances. This conversation marked a pivotal moment in their relationship, as Teni realized that Niniola’s critique stemmed from genuine concern and a genuine desire to aid her growth as a singer.
A significant moment arrived when Teni participated in a school event and delivered an enchanting performance, earning thunderous applause from the entire school community. This left Teni feeling overjoyed and accomplished.
Excited to share her success with Niniola, she hurried home to tell her sister about the enthusiastic response from the audience.
To her surprise, Niniola not only listened attentively but also clapped for her.
This act of support and encouragement solidified their bond, and Teni knew that they were embarking on something special together.
In the following years, Teni and Niniola continued to support each other’s musical endeavors, celebrating each other’s achievements and providing constructive feedback.
In her words;
“My elder sister, the one that’s older than Nini [Niniola], Doyin, maybe she was deceiving because she didn’t want to hurt me; she used to tell me I have a melodic voice whenever I sing during my childhood. Nini, on the other hand, would tell me my voice isn’t sweet. So, I thought she was jealous of me.
“She [Niniola] called me aside and told me not to let Doyin deceive me. She now said, ‘You sing from your stomach.’ So, every time Nini sings, I would watch her sing. So, I also started singing from my stomach.
“There was a time my school organized an event, I sang and the whole school stood up and was clapping for me. I said, ‘I’ve arrived.’ I went back home to tell Nini that I sang in school and everybody was clapping and she said I should sing what I sang. I sang it and Nini too clapped for me. I said, ‘Okay, we are up to something.”
