Akili Ni Mali & Pals

Akili Ni Mali is a Chicago-based professional actor and recording artist whose sound blends R&B, soul, jazz, and pop. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Jazmine Sullivan, Erykah Badu, Rachelle Ferrell, Sade, and India Arie, Akili’s music is rooted in rich vocal expression and emotive storytelling. She released her debut EP Breathe in 2020, followed by singles Good Life (2020), Right (2021), Sold (2022), Lana Del Rey (2023), 9–5 (2024), the Changes EP (2024), and most recently Ick and S’éloigner (2025).

With over 1,000,000 streams on Spotify, Akili’s breakout single “UP” has gained traction through grassroots marketing and strong listener engagement. She currently reaches 56,000+ monthly listeners, with continued growth across Spotify’s algorithmic ecosystem, including Radio, Discover Weekly, and Daylist.

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A California native, Akili began her professional performance journey in TV and film at just 12 years old before relocating to Indianapolis, where she transitioned into live theatre. She…