These are the top 20 African greatest musicians of all time sometimes considered legends.
You may be surprised that Africa harbors some of the biggest musicians in the world and that’s why we list the top 20 African greatest musicians of all time.
Who are the African greatest musicians of all time?
Many of these musicians were pioneers of music genres that are made in Africa.
The authentic sound that comes from these men and women can only be envied by other musicians from around the world.
Over the years, the music collections of these musicians have never ceased to inspire people.
We have a list that has explored the legends Africa has ever produced in the music industry.
Top 20 African greatest musicians of all time
1. Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti is famous for his high-octane musical performances. Kuti is argued to be the African greatest musician to have lived.
He was a political activist, instrumentalist, composer, musician, and pioneer of the Afrobeat.
He sang in a tone that was electrifying and inspiring in Pidgin English.
2. Miriam Mkeba
Mama Africa, aka Miriam Makeba has been called a true legend who used music in fighting for the rights of her people.
She was known for her stage performances and signature sound. She won a Grammy and lived her life to make South Africa music more powerful.
3. Ali Farka Toure
Ali Farka Toure is a Malian guitarist and singer, who fused the Malian local music with African American jazz.
He is a multilingual singer who made the languages in Mali popular with his music.
4. Yousssou N dour
Youssou N dour is a Senegalese singer and also a percussionist.
He got this flair in his music that changed the music industry in the country, blending hip hop, Mbalex, Cuban, and elements of pop.
5. Brenda Faisse
Brenda Faissie was that voice that never stopped ringing sweetly in your ears after listening to her music.
She was called the Queen of African Pop.
The songs of Faissie were powerfully written to pass a message to the South African oppressors and also to tell lovers that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
6. King Sunny Ade
King Sunny Ade is still making waves after decades in the Nigerian music industry.
He has toured around the world and he was the first person who made use of the pedal steel guitar in his country.
He sings juju music and has never stopped winning the hearts of his fans.
7. Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube was known for his rejuvenation of African reggae music. The music of Dube was so powerful that it didn’t stop giving hope to the people of South Africa.
He was legendary and a tour of the world.
8. Ladysmith Black Mambazo
The group is from South Africa, an award Grammy-winning group that has sand for the liberation of the country during the apartheid.
They became famous after they sang with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland.
9. Angelique Kidjo
She is an activist and Grammy Award winner from Benin. She is influential and supports the cause of women.
She is diverse and creative when it comes to creating great music.
10. E.T Mensah
Emmanuel Tettey Mensah, who is mostly referred to as E.T Mensah came from Ghana and was called the “King of Highlife” music.
He has played for the President of Ghana and toured the world to display his dexterity.
11. Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe often referred to as just Osadebe, was a Nigerian highlife musician from Atani.
During his career spanning over four decades, he became one of the best-known musicians of Igbo highlife.
His best-known hit was the 1984 single “Osondi Owendi”,
12. Oliver D Coque
Oliver Sunday Akanite better known by the stage name Oliver De Coque was a Nigerian guitarist and one of Africa’s most prolific recording artists.
De Coque was awarded an honorary degree in music from the University of New Orleans
13. Bright Chimezie
His music style became known as Zigima Sound, It is a genre that became popular in the Eastern part of Nigeria in the early 1980s.
It is a mix of traditional Nigerian music and Igbo highlife fused with chanted vocals.
Bright Chimezie used it to revolutionize the musical structure in Nigeria with lyrics that focused on social issues of the country in a rather funny way
14. Ebenezer Obey
Ebenezer Obey (born 3 April 1942 as Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi, MFR in Idogo, Nigeria), nicknamed the “Chief Commander“, is a Nigerian jùjú musician.
15. Koffi Olomide
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese Soukus singer, dancer, producer, and composer.
He has had several gold records in his career. He is the founder of the Quartier Latin International orchestra with many notable artists, including Fally Ipupa and Ferré Gola.
16. Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu is a Nigerian singer/songwriter, actress, human rights activist, social activist, journalist, politician, and former X Factor series judge.
Dubbed the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, she is a former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture
17. Hugh Masekela
Hugh Ramapolo Masekela was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer, and composer who was described as “the father of South African jazz”.
Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for writing well-known anti-apartheid songs
18. Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Yvonne Chaka Chaka is an internationally recognized South African singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and teacher.
Dubbed the “Princess of Africa” (a name she received after a 1990 tour), Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South African popular music for 35 years
19. Vusi Mahlasela
Vusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane (born 1965 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a Sotho South African singer-songwriter.
His music is generally described as “African folk” and he is often dubbed as “The Voice” of South Africa. His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement.
20. Majek Fashek
Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek (March 1963 – 1 June 2020) was a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist.
His 1988 album Prisoner of Conscience included the single “Send Down the Rain”, which won six PMAN Music Awards.
Notable Mentions (New Generation musicians paving the legendary way for the Africa culture)
- Wizkid
- Davido
- Mafikizolo
- Burna Boy
- Diamond Platnumz
- Shatta Wale
- Sarkodie
Top 20 African greatest musicians of all time
Fela Kuti
Lucky Dube
Miriam Mkeba
Ali Farka Toure
Yousssou N dour
Brenda Faisse
King Sunny Ade
Angelique Kidjo
E.T Mensah
Chief Stephen Osadebe
Oliver D Coque
Bright Chimezie
Ebenezer Obey
Koffi Olomide
Onyeka Onwenu
Hugh Masekela
Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Vusi Mahlasela
Oris Wiliki.