Kold AF Biography: Afro-Fusion Career, Songs, and Awards

Who Is Kold AF? Biography of the Nigerian Afro-Fusion Singer

Kold AF is a Nigerian singer-songwriter known for blending Dancehall, Afrobeats, Reggae, and R&B into a sound she calls Afro-fusion. She began pursuing music professionally in 2020 and has since built a catalogue that includes two EPs and multiple singles.

Who Is Kold AF?

Kold AF is the stage name of Anino Alero Oritsesan, a Nigerian singer from Delta State, southern Nigeria. She has built her identity around versatility, moving between Dancehall, Afro-pop, Pop, Soul, Hip-Hop, and Rhythm and Blues rather than staying within one genre. Other Nigerian female artists who emerged through similar independent and label-backed platforms include Ayra Starr, Tems, and Fave.

What Genre of Music Does Kold AF Make?

Kold AF describes her sound as a fusion of dancehall and afro-pop combined with several other genres she favours. Her hallmark as an artist is versatility, seamlessly blending genres to create a distinct Afro-fusion sound that mixes Afrobeats, Dancehall, Pop, Soul, Hip-Hop, and RnB. This approach separates her from artists who commit to a single genre throughout a project.

How Did Kold AF Start Her Music Career?

Kold AF began pursuing music professionally in 2020 and was featured on Aristokrat Records’ Open House Vol. 1 in 2022. That same year, she released her debut project. Her early trajectory followed three steps:

1. Professional debut in 2020.
2. Label feature on Aristokrat Records’ compilation in 2022.
3. Release of her first solo project the same year.

What Are Kold AF’s Major Releases?

She released Kold Szn, a two-track project, in 2022. In 2023, she released her debut EP, Kollide, which showcased her vocal range and songwriting ability. Kold Szn introduced her style, while Kollide solidified her presence in the industry and revealed deeper layers of her artistry.

Her sophomore project, Kaution, is a six-track EP that displays deliberate song arrangement and range across production styles. The EP opens with the Dancehall track “365,” which addresses ambition and business building, and includes “9 Lives,” a collaboration with Bkay EastGaad.

In 2024, she released the single “Manyana,” a title derived from the Spanish word Mañana, meaning tomorrow. She also released a two-pack EP called “no PITY” alongside alternative soul artist Aema on International Women’s Day.

Kold AF Discography Timeline

What Awards and Recognitions Has Kold AF Received?

Media outlets including Okay Africa, Culture Custodian, and Turntable Charts recognised Kold AF as an artist to watch for 2023 and 2024, and she was later named an Apple Music Up Next artist. She was named a Spotify Fresh Finds artist in 2023. In April 2024, she took centre stage in Spotify’s EQUAL Africa program. She was also featured as a member of Ejoya’s “Class of ’23,” a yearly project that platforms the next generation of African artists.

Who Are Kold AF’s Musical Influences?

Kold AF draws from the musical traditions of artists including Burna Boy, Asa, and Cynthia Morgan, alongside global influences such as Rihanna, Mahalia, and Sean Paul. As a child, she listened to artists her parents favoured, including Fela Kuti, Lagbaja, Plantashun Boiz, Psquare, Angelique Kidjo, Fally Ipupa, and Awilo Longomba.

What Are Kold AF’s Collaborations?

Kold AF has worked alongside major Afrobeats acts including Moelogo. On her Kaution EP, she collaborated with Bkay EastGaad on the track “9 Lives.” She has named Burna Boy, Yebba, Rema, and Coldplay as artists she would like to collaborate with in the future.

Quick Facts About Kold AF

What Is Kold AF Known For?

Kold AF is known for combining Dancehall, Afrobeats, and R&B into a genre-blending sound she calls Afro-fusion. Her progression from the Kold Szn project through Kollide and into Kaution, along with recognition from Spotify and Apple Music, has established her among Nigeria’s rising female artists.

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