Nigerians are known to travel to other countries in search of greener pastures and while some relocated back, others stay to have children who sometimes end up in the entertainment industry.
Blacks can be found in every area of entertainment and some of them are actually by birth, half parent, immigrant parent, or nationalization. Some of them can be found in the Music Industry and have gone to become international artists.
Here are the International artists you didn’t know were of Nigerian descent.
Jidenna
Popularly known for his February 2015 single, “Classic Man”, Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, who is signed to Janelle Monae’s Wondaland Records label, was born in Wisconsin to a Nigerian father and a white mother and grew up in Nigeria.
In 1995 his family moved back to Boston Massachusetts. His song “Classic Man” was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 58th Grammy Awards.
Jidenna blends African Ankara prints into his outfit, a move that gives him up as an African.
NAS
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who is the son of the popular Jazz musician, Olu Dara blues musician of Yoruba descent, is an internationally known American Rapper and producer.
He began his musical career in 1991 and released his debut album Illmatic, in 1994. Nas was popularly known for his legendary rivalry with Jay Z that was the talk of the early 2000s.
His popular tracks include, Hate Me Now” and “Ether”, “The World is Yours”, “NY State of Mind” amongst others.
Skepta
Skepta’s real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga, he was born on September 19, 1982. He is an English Grime artist, songwriter, and record producer of Nigerian descent.
He released his debut studio album Greatest Hits in late 2007 and his second, Microphone Champion in 2009, both independently, while his third studio album Doin’ It Again was released in 2011 by AATW.
His fourth studio album, Konnichiwa, was released on May 6, 2016, to critical acclaim, winning the year’s Mercury Prize.
Wale
Olubowale Victor Akintimehin known by his stage name Wale was born on September 21, 1984. He first rose to prominence in 2006, when his song “Dig Dug (Shake It)” became popular in his hometown.
His parents were both from the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria, and both of them came from Austria to the United States in 1979.
He’s is under the imprint of Maybach music, a record label owned by rapper Rick Ross but signed to Warner music.
Tinie Tempah
Tinie Tempah whose real name is Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu born on the 7th of November 1988 was born to Nigerian parents from Ibusa, Delta State.
He is one of UK’s hottest rappers and his most popular track to date, “Written in the Stars”, was the official theme song for WWE’s Wrestlemania 27 and was also used to usher in the New York Giants for Super Bowl 46.
Seal
Seal whose real name is Henry Olusegun Olumide Adelo Samuel was born to a Nigerian father, Francis Samuel, and mother, Adebisi Ogundeji.
He married model/TV personality, Heidi Klum, for seven years with three kids together before they separated in 2012.
He has won four Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award amongst others. Seal has several hit songs which include “Kiss from the rose”, “Crazy, ‘Killer’, “Lips Like Sugar”.
https://mp3bullet.ng/top-11-nigerian-artists-who-have-their-own-record-label/
Sade Adu
English Singer and Songwriter, Sade Adu was born Helen Folasade Adu in Ibadan and brought up in England.
She achieved worldwide fame and acclaim in the 1980s as the lead vocalist of the multi-platinum selling group, Sade, which was named after her.
She is the first Nigerian to win a Grammy award, a feat she achieved in 1986 with her band, Sade. Sade has sold more than 40 million units to date.
Her services to music were also recognized with an award of the Officer of the Order of the British Empire chivalry honor in 2002, and later the rank of the Commander of the same order in 2017.
Chamillionaire
The Grammy Award-winning rapper was born Hakeem Seriki in Washington DC to a Muslim father and a Christian mother, both of Nigerian extraction.
He is best known for his 2007 Grammy Award-winning rap single, “Ridin’”, which featured Krayzie Bone of the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
In addition to being a musician, Hakeem ‘Chamillionaire’ Seriki has embarked a business career and established himself as an entrepreneur in a number of industries.
Lemar
Lemar Obika known professionally as Lemar was born in Tottenham, North London, England to Nigerian parents on the 4th of April 1978.
The Award winning singer is knwon for his hit songs like “If There’s Any Justice”, “Time to Grow” and “Don’t Give It Up”
Lemar has also won two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards . Not much has been heard of him since.