Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael (born 19 December 1994), known professionally as Zlatan Ibile, is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

rapper and singer. He is the chief executive officer and founder of Zanku records. In 2014, he won the

Airtel Bharti Airtel Limited, commonly known as (d/b/a) Airtel, is an Indian multinational telecommunications services company based in New Delhi. It operates in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa, as well as the Channel Islands. Current ...

-sponsored One Mic talent show held in 2014,

Abeokuta Abeokuta is the capital city of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun River, near a group of rocky outcrops in a wooded savanna; north of Lagos by railway, or by water. , Abeokuta and the surrounding are ...

Ogun State Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo State and Osun State to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin to the ...

. Towards the end of 2018, Zlatan released a single titled "Zanku", with a new dance routine of the same name. On 3 November 2019, he released his debut studio album ''Zanku'', an acronym for Zlatan Abeg No Kill Us. The artiste claimed in 2020 that it was his dream to become a footballer, not a musician.

Early life and career

Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael was born and raised in

Ilorin Ilorin is the List of capitals of states of Nigeria, capital city of Kwara State in Western Nigeria.. Retrieved 18 February 2007 As of the 2006 census, it had a population of 777,667, making it the List of Nigerian cities by population, 7th ...

Kwara State Kwara State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Kwárà), is a state in Western Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kogi State, to the north by Niger state, and to the south by Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states, while its western border makes up part of the internation ...

but has family roots in Ijurin,

Ekiti State Ekiti State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkìtì) is a state in southwestern Nigeria, bordered to the north by Kwara State, to the northeast by Kogi State, to the south and southeast by Ondo State, and to the west by Osun State. Named for the Ekiti peo ...

. In 2011, he graduated with a national diploma in business administration from

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Moshood Abiola Polytechnic also known as MAPOLY is a tertiary learning institution in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. The Ojere campus is in the South-Eastern part of Abeokuta, covering about 960 hectares of rolling land bounded by the Ogun River ...

. Zlatan decided to pursue a career in music after graduating secondary school. When he was 19 years old, he won the

-sponsored 2014 edition of "One Mic Campus Tour" music competition, which was held in

. He gained recognition in the Nigerian music industry after releasing the

Olamide Olamide Gbenga Adedeji (born 15 March 1989) is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Widely regarded as one of the biggest and most influential artists in Africa, he has been instrumental to the launching of the careers ...

-assisted track "My Body" in 2017. In 2018, Lawrence Irabor, one of the co-owner of Alleluyah Boiz Entertainment sign Zlatan to their record label A.B.E. record when he heard the song Zlatan sang with Olamid
‘I Don't Regret Signing Zlatan To A.B.E Records’
Zlatan gained further exposure following his collaboration with Chinko Ekun and

Lil Kesh Keshinro Ololade (born 17 March 1995), known professionally as Lil Kesh, is a Nigerian singer and rapper. He rose to limelight after releasing the hit single "Shoki". Early life and education Ololade was born and raised in Bariga, an area in L ...

on the 2018 hit single "Able God". Shortly afterwards, he dropped "Zanku", a song that was accompanied by a dance routine of the same name. Towards the end of 2018, Zlatan released the

Davido David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), popularly known by his stage name Davido, is an American-Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. His music blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop. Davido is widel ...

-assisted track "Osanle". In early 2019, he released "Glory" before being featured on

Burna Boy Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (born 2 July 1991), known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album, '' L.I ...

's "Killin Dem", a track from the latter's fourth studio album ''

African Giant ''African Giant'' is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The album was released on July 26, 2019, by Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, Atlantic Records and Warner Music. The album is a mixture of Afrobeats, Afrobeat, dancehal ...

''. Shortly afterwards, he was featured on Ceeza Milli's "Flenjo" and

Naira Marley Azeez Adeshina Fashola (born 10 May 1991), known professionally as Naira Marley, is a British-Nigerian singer and song writer. He is known as the president of his controversial fan base, "Marlians". Education At the age of 11, he moved to Pec ...

's "Am I a Yahoo Boy". On 26 July 2019, Zlatan announced he signed an endorsement deal with

Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...

Zanku Records

On January 1, 2020, Zlatan took to his Instagram page to announce the launch of his record label 'Zanku Records' without no artists unveiled. Down to February 25, he celebrated his birthday while he announced the numbers and names of acts he signed. He listed three artists named: Papisnoop, Oberz and Jamopyper, he also announced the official signing of a Videographer/Cinematographer named Visionary Pictures, his Manager 'Manager Jiggy', his Music Producer

Rexxie Ezeh Chisom Faith (born 10 November 1994), professionally known as Rexxie Also known for the tag (''Yo! Rexxie Pon This One''), is a Nigerian record producer, DJ and songwriter. He is popular for creating the Zanku sound, and producing Naira Marl ...

and a PR Consultant 'Biesloaded'. He made this announcement with a picture of him and seven other people via his Instagram page.

Arrest and release

In May 2019, the EFCC arrested Zlatan and a few others in connection with an alleged case of internet fraud and money laundering. A few days later, he was released on administrative bail.

ENDSARS protest

In October 2020, during the

EndSARS #EndSARS is a decentralised social movement, and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria. The slogan calls for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police with a l ...

protest, Zlatan released "Soro Soke" to express his concern over the massacre of innocent youths at the Lekki toll gate

Discography

Studio albums

*''Zanku'' (2019) *''Resan'' (2021)

Singles

;As lead artist ;As featured artist

Awards and nominations

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zlatan Living people 1994 births Place of birth missing (living people) 21st-century Nigerian male singers Yoruba-language singers Moshood Abiola Polytechnic alumni Singers from Lagos