Tonye Garrick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tonye
on NdaniTV
Background information
Birth name	Tamunotonye Nneka Nkiruka Ibiyemi Garrick
Born	(1983-08-27) 27 August 1983 (age 42) England
Origin	Lagos, Nigeria
Genres	RnB afropop urban contemporary Dancehall
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, fashion and interior designer
Instruments	Vocals singing
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Made Men
Associated acts	Timaya Password

Tonye Garrick, known simply as Tonye, is a talented singer and songwriter from Nigeria. She was born in England on August 27, 1983. Tonye is famous for her amazing voice and catchy songs.

One of her early songs, an a cappella track called "What About Us?", was even featured at the Nigerian Youth Presidential debate in 2011. Tonye grew up in different countries, including France, Nigeria, and the United States. In 2013, she decided to follow her dream of becoming a musician. She left her job as a business consultant to focus on music.

In 2015, Tonye released a popular song called "Ari Belema". This song was so well-liked that it earned her a nomination for "Most Promising Act" at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Since April 2016, Tonye has been signed to Made Men Music Group, a record label.

Tonye's Early Life and Education

Tonye's family comes from Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria. Her special name, "Tamunotonye", was given to her by her grandmother. Her grandmother is from the Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State.

Tonye's father was a diplomat from Edo State, and her mother was from Anambra State. Because of her father's job, Tonye spent her childhood in different places. She lived in Nigeria, Paris, and the United States.

For her secondary school education, Tonye attended two well-known schools in Nigeria: Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls and Queen's College, Lagos. After that, she went to Marymount University. She earned a bachelor's degree in International Business & Fashion Merchandising.

Tonye's Journey into Music

Before becoming a full-time musician, Tonye worked in the business world. She was a business analyst for big companies like UBS Financial and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. However, her passion for music was strong.

In 2013, Tonye decided to change her career path. She left her corporate job to pursue music. Her first official song was "Were Niyen," and it was very well received. On October 2, 2014, she released another song called "Criminal", which was produced by Password. This song also became quite popular.

Her song "Abi Belema" became a big hit in 2015. This success led to her nomination at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Tonye looks up to many famous singers who have inspired her music. Some of her biggest musical influences include Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Brandy, and Aaliyah. In 2014, she shared that she was working on her first album.

Tonye's Songs

Tonye has released several singles throughout her career. These are individual songs that are often released before a full album.

• "What About Us" (2010)
• "Were Niyen" (2013)
• "Wait For Me" (2014)
• "Criminal" (2014)
• "Criminal (Remix)" (2014) – This version featured the artist Timaya.
• "Ari Belema" (2015)
• "Written in The Stars" (2016)

Awards and Nominations

Tonye has been recognized for her talent in the music industry.

See also

• List of Nigerian musicians