Top 10 Greatest Nigerian Musicians of All Time

Pioneer of Juju music and Nigeria’s original global ambassador, King Sunny Ade earned a Grammy nomination in 1983 — one of the first African artists to achieve this. Nicknamed the “Minister of Enjoyment,” he has released over 200 albums and introduced the talking drum to international audiences throughout a 50-year career.

Grammy Award winner in 2021 for Best Global Music Album (Twice as Tall), Burna Boy became the first Nigerian artist to headline Madison Square Garden in 2022. His Afrofusion sound — blending Afrobeats, dancehall, and pop — has made him one of the fastest-growing global music superstars of the 2020s.

Grammy Award winner in 2021 for Best Music Video (Brown Skin Girl with Beyoncé), Wizkid was the first Nigerian artist to sell out the O2 Arena in London — twice. His 2016 collaboration “One Dance” with Drake spent 15 weeks at #1 globally, cementing Afrobeats as a mainstream international genre.

2Baba’s “African Queen” (2004) became one of the most beloved African love songs ever recorded. The most awarded Nigerian artist of his generation, he won the MOBO Award for Best African Act and has been a cultural touchstone for over two decades, bridging Afrobeats with pan-African unity.

D'banj's 2012 international hit 'Oliver Twist' topped charts across Europe and Africa, propelling him to global fame. In 2011 he signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music label, becoming the first African artist on the roster. His electrifying stage presence and harmonica skills made him West Africa's biggest crossover act of his era.

Twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye formed P-Square, the biggest-selling Nigerian act of the 2000s. Their blend of R&B, hip-hop, and Afrobeats produced Pan-African anthems like “Do Me” and “Squeeze My Head,” and they sold out arenas from Lagos to London, becoming symbols of Nigerian pop dominance.

With three Grammy nominations and chart-topping hits across three continents, Davido is one of Nigeria’s most commercially successful artists. His 2017 single “Fall” became the longest-charting Nigerian pop song on the Billboard charts, spending over 72 weeks and introducing millions of American listeners to Afrobeats.

A trailblazing singer, actress, and activist, Onyeka Onwenu pioneered socially conscious Nigerian pop music with anthems like “One Love” in the 1980s. Appointed as a UN Development Programme ambassador, she used her platform to champion women’s rights and Nigerian identity across music, film, and public service for 40+ years.

The masked maestro of Afrojuju, Lagbaja maintained his anonymity behind a white mask for over 30 years — pioneering the concept of the masked performer in African music. His blend of Yoruba folklore, talking drum rhythms, and contemporary funk created an entirely original sound that influenced a generation of experimental African artists.

Pioneer of Juju music and Nigeria’s original global ambassador, King Sunny Ade earned a Grammy nomination in 1983 — one of the first African artists to achieve this. Nicknamed the “Minister of Enjoyment,” he has released over 200 albums and introduced the talking drum to international audiences throughout a 50-year career.

Grammy Award winner in 2021 for Best Global Music Album (Twice as Tall), Burna Boy became the first Nigerian artist to headline Madison Square Garden in 2022. His Afrofusion sound — blending Afrobeats, dancehall, and pop — has made him one of the fastest-growing global music superstars of the 2020s.

Grammy Award winner in 2021 for Best Music Video (Brown Skin Girl with Beyoncé), Wizkid was the first Nigerian artist to sell out the O2 Arena in London — twice. His 2016 collaboration “One Dance” with Drake spent 15 weeks at #1 globally, cementing Afrobeats as a mainstream international genre.

2Baba’s “African Queen” (2004) became one of the most beloved African love songs ever recorded. The most awarded Nigerian artist of his generation, he won the MOBO Award for Best African Act and has been a cultural touchstone for over two decades, bridging Afrobeats with pan-African unity.

D'banj's 2012 international hit 'Oliver Twist' topped charts across Europe and Africa, propelling him to global fame. In 2011 he signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music label, becoming the first African artist on the roster. His electrifying stage presence and harmonica skills made him West Africa's biggest crossover act of his era.

Twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye formed P-Square, the biggest-selling Nigerian act of the 2000s. Their blend of R&B, hip-hop, and Afrobeats produced Pan-African anthems like “Do Me” and “Squeeze My Head,” and they sold out arenas from Lagos to London, becoming symbols of Nigerian pop dominance.

With three Grammy nominations and chart-topping hits across three continents, Davido is one of Nigeria’s most commercially successful artists. His 2017 single “Fall” became the longest-charting Nigerian pop song on the Billboard charts, spending over 72 weeks and introducing millions of American listeners to Afrobeats.

A trailblazing singer, actress, and activist, Onyeka Onwenu pioneered socially conscious Nigerian pop music with anthems like “One Love” in the 1980s. Appointed as a UN Development Programme ambassador, she used her platform to champion women’s rights and Nigerian identity across music, film, and public service for 40+ years.

The masked maestro of Afrojuju, Lagbaja maintained his anonymity behind a white mask for over 30 years — pioneering the concept of the masked performer in African music. His blend of Yoruba folklore, talking drum rhythms, and contemporary funk created an entirely original sound that influenced a generation of experimental African artists.