Her major encounter with the arts was in 1988 with a group called "Troupe Africana", at the National Arts Theatre Lagos, Nigeria. She blossomed under the tutelage of Ms. Lizzy Hammond, an Internationally acclaimed Choreographer, who brought out Yinka's performing abilities i.e Acting, Dancing and eventually Singing.
Her talents for acting and singing were further enhanced by Felix Okolo, a Theatre Director and Sam Uquah a wll known Musician.
In 1992, Bisade Ologunde, AKA Lagbaja! (multi-talented instrumentalist/musician and ace saxophonist) introduced Yinka to the world of live music. This broke open her talents not only as a singer but also as a composer, lyricist and particularly as an arranger.
She was the female lead vocalist with Bisade Ologunde's "Colours Band" and performed numerous live gigs with them; she also performs in the same capacity with the current musical rave in Nigeria - 'Lagbaja' an Artiste of great dynamism.
Yinka has appeared as guest Artiste on the CDs of many Nigerian Artistes - Bisade & The Colours Band, Lagbaja, King Sunny Ade, Esse Egesse, Alex O, Timi Osukoya, Blackky, Francis Goldman, Femi Lasode's Afrika 'N Vogue etc.
On the 21st of January 1994, tragedy struck when Yinka, whilst coming back from a rehearsal was knocked down by a vehicle, as she was trying to cross the road. She suffered a compound fracture on her left leg. With the help of a charity call coordinated by concerned friends of the arts, in the person of Femi Akintunde Johnson (FAJ) - of National Encomium and Jahman Anikulapo - Arts Editor, The Guardian Newspaper, Yinka was able to undergo surgery and all other necessary treatment to save her leg.
All Yinka Davies fans, kind hearted members of the public, private organisations and government establishments donated generously to the "Save Yinka Davies Appeals Fund". This incident only put her career on hold, just for a while because there was no keeping this lady down, by 21st June 1995; Yinka was back on stage again with a bang! Doing what she loves best - Entertaining. Her fans and the entire Nigerian public were most pleased with her recovery and return to the stage.
Today Yinka performs at many shows and concerts around the country. Recently, she had concerts for the French Cultural Centres in Kano and Lagos, she performed at a Jazz concert for Satszenbrau, at The Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, entertained at The Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, over the Christmas period of 1996, was a guest Artiste at the anniversary celebrations of "JAZZVILLE", a foremost jazz club in Lagos.
From March - April 1997, Yinka was on a tour that took her to Milan, Italy and the cities of Tunis and Sousse in Tunisia, where she performed at some festivals. In Milan she performed at the 'Donna Africa' Concert, which was the highlight of the closing ceremony for the annual African Film Festival in Milan. In Tunisia she performed at the famous castle - 'Maison du Baron d' Erlange Ennejma Ezzara' in Sidi bou Said, Carthage. Followed by another performance at the Spring Festival in Sousse.
At all concerts she performed with a team of African music Divas from six African countries. There is a collaboration CD of all the women to be released in a couple of months. Three of Yinka's compositions will be on the Disc. She returned to Milan and had her own mini concert, at The Villa Pallavicini on the 3rd of April to an audience packed hall!
Yinka is presently working at the NICON Hilton Hotel, Abuja and working very hard towards the release of her debut Album/CD. She has the ability and special talent to compose and sing any form of music genre, from folk, Traditional Jazz, Afribeat, R&B, Soul, Funk, Reggae, to contemporary Jazz, etc, needless to say that she excels in all. Her style can be classified as "Afrojazz". There is the need to see this multi-talented lady in action to truly appreciate her art, and marvel at another creation of God, that we all have come to know simply as 'Yinka Davies'. Yinka is blessed with a son, Dayo, whom she adores immensely.
Yinka Davies Management.
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