Behind every unforgettable melody there lies the geniuses who created them. It is the dream of every musician to be successful and be able to leave their marks in the sands of time. There are countless artists in the Nigerian music industry spanning various genres and eras who have curated timeless sounds that have long been relevant, enjoyed, and appreciated by audiences.
As we reflect on these legends let’s delve into some of the top evergreen artists in Nigeria
1. Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegege (King Sunny Ade)
Chief Sunday aka King Sunny Ade is a multi-instrumentalist who redefined juju music in Nigeria in the 70s till late 90s, his chart-topping albums, dance steps and mastery of the guitar endeared him to many.
He was described by the New York Times as one of the World’s greatest band leaders and is considered one of the most captivating and important musical artists anywhere in the world. His albums ‘Synchro System’ and’ Odu’ garnered him Grammy nominations, the first for a Nigerian artist.
2. Sunny Okosun
Okosun’s music trended from the late 70s to the mid-80s, he named his band Ozzidi Band after a renowned ijaw river god. Okosun’s brand of music was a synthesis of Afrobeat, reggae, and funk music. He made songs on pan-Africanism, freedom, and social and political issues affecting Africans, some of his timeless songs include “Which Way Nigeria” “Great Change” “Mother & Child” and many more.
3. Oseleko Augustine Onwubuya(Ras Kimono)
Ras Kimono held a cloud of musical influence over Nigeria in the 90s with his reggae style of music. Before releasing his solo album he was in a group called The Jastix along with Amos Mcroy and Majek Fashek.
His songs were danceable and easy to follow. ‘Rum Bar stylee’ was a big hit in the Nigerian music scene. He went on to become a prominent artist in Nigeria.
4. Majekodunmi Fasheke (Majek Fashek)
Majek Fashek was also known as the ‘rainmaker’ he was very active in the 80’s around the time when reggae gained prominence in Nigeria. Aside from his popular song ‘Send Down the Rain’ which topped the charts and earned him awards.
Majek incarnated wonders in his other songs like ‘Pangolo’ among others. He has worked with renowned international artists like Michael Jackson, Tracy Chapman, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.
5. Fela Anikulapo kuti
Fela, as he’s fondly known, was the man who started the Afrobeat craze. He was a composer, band leader, and political activist among others. He shot to stardom in the 70’s till the 90’s. His influence on the African music industry is legendary, with hits like ‘Shakara’ ‘Ololufe’ ‘black president’ and much more.
He was known for using his music to speak against bad government policies. His song ‘Zombie’ was a soundtrack to the world-renowned video game ‘grand theft auto’ He has influenced a lot of musicians who are making their marks in the industry today.
6. Helen Folasade Abu
Folasade popularly known as Sade is the leader of the band ‘Sade’ named after her. Together they secured a recording contract with American label Epic Records in 1983.
Sade achieved mostly International achievements with high album sales with their albums ‘Diamond Life’ ‘Love Deluxe’ and ‘Promise’, top charting songs and selling out stadiums in the United Kingdom. Sade has also appeared in multiple movies as an actress making her a world-class entertainer.
7. Innocent Ujah Idibia(2 baba)
2 Baba is a singer, songwriter, and producer. He is associated with the rise in popularity of Nigerian pop music in the 2000s with his solo debut album face2face and smash hit single African Queen.
He paved a path for Nigerian music amongst Africans on the continent and beyond. He is one of the most awarded Nigerian artists in history.
8. Bisade Ologunde(Lagbaja)
Bisade Ologinde popularly known as Lagbaja which in Yoruba can be translated to mean ‘somebody’ ‘nobody’ ‘anybody’ and ‘everybody’ was known for his masked identity and his local and international fanbase.
He curated his own unique sound with a mix of Afrobeat, highlife, and jazz. Lagbaja made waves and gained worldwide recognition in the 90s and early 2000s. Some of his smashing hits include “Konko Below” “Never Far Away” and “Nothing for You”.
9. P-Square
P-Square is a musical duo consisting of twin brothers Peter and Paul. They are important to the evolution of the 2000s and 2010s African popular music.
The success of their albums and hit songs such as ‘Do Me’ ‘Senorita’ and ‘Chop My Money’ earned them numerous awards. Although the duo is currently separated. P Square will always be widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in Africa.
10. Christy Essien Igbokwe
Christy, fondly called “Nigeria’s lady of songs” is a legendary figure in the Nigerian Music industry. She would effortlessly switch between highlife, reggae, Disco and gospel genres.
She has sung timeless songs such as “Seun Rere” and “Ever Liked My Person” conveying the message of love, unity, and empowerment. She was the brain behind the formation of the Performing Musician Association of Nigeria in 1982.
Nigeria has had a vast number of musicians experimenting across different genres which with their talents has put Nigeria on the world map. These trailblazers are an inspiration to established and emerging Nigerian artists around the world to continue creating innovative music.
