Zakiya Fola is a Chicago South Side native whose musical journey began at just eight years old as a trombonist at Beasley Academic Center. She quickly immersed herself in some of the city’s most esteemed music programs, including the South Shore Youth Jazz Ensemble, Ravinia Jazz Scholars, After School Matters: Jazz Harvest, The Merit School of Music, and others. Her early introduction to the Jazz Institute of Chicago (JIC) inspired her to begin volunteering, where she went on to found the Jazz Links Student Council — a pioneering group created for elementary and high school jazz students.

As a young performer, Zakiya shared stages with jazz legends such as Von Freeman, Donald Harrison Jr., Willie Pickens, and Charlie Haden, gracing iconic venues including the Chicago Jazz Festival, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, The Jazz Showcase, and more.

Zakiya pursued Jazz Studies at Columbia College Chicago and was soon invited to join the JIC team as an Education Associate. There, she mentored young artists, curated performance opportunities, contracted world-class musicians for workshops, and programmed signature series such as Next Gen Jazz at the Drake Hotel and Jazz in the Parks in partnership with the Chicago Park District.

After eight impactful years with JIC, Zakiya expanded her career to New York City in 2014, where she worked as a booking agent at Musiq Haus Management, one of the city’s top artist agencies. She collaborated with icons like Gary Bartz, Herlin Riley, and Bobby Watson — an experience that inspired her to launch her own firm.

In 2015, Fola Management, LLC was born — an artist management and consulting company grounded in excellence, care, and legacy-building. Drawing from her dual background as a performer and producer, Zakiya brings artists a rare mix of creative empathy and strategic guidance, helping them navigate an ever-changing music industry with clarity and confidence.

Now based in Chicago, Zakiya currently consults with a range of independent and established artists, offering strategic guidance rooted in both experience and care. She serves as the Program & Operations Manager at the Jazz Institute of Chicago, where she helps shape programs that elevate artists, audiences, and the city’s cultural landscape. Zakiya is also an executive committee member of the Chicago Jazz Alliance, where she played an instrumental role in bringing International Jazz Day 2026 to Chicago — marking a major moment of recognition for the city's global jazz presence. In 2024, she was honored with The Spirit of Jazz Award by Live the Spirit Residency and The Englewood Jazz Festival, recognizing her contributions to the city’s jazz community and her commitment to cultural leadership. Through these roles and ongoing consulting work, she continues to expand her impact across performance, education, and cultural strategy.

Zakiya is honored to support visionary artists and looks forward to continuing the work of amplifying brilliance through Fola Management.